Yes, I know the entire dance. No, I am not a loser.
Title: A Band of Skulls song from their 2009 Single Album for "Fires." I really love their album artwork as well, some of which I've included below
Music: Kate Bush "Wuthering Heights"
LOW TO BEHOLD
Yes, I know the entire dance. No, I am not a loser.
Title: A Band of Skulls song from their 2009 Single Album for "Fires." I really love their album artwork as well, some of which I've included below
Music: Kate Bush "Wuthering Heights"
SYNDROMES AND A CENTURY
Yesterday I watched Syndromes and a Century for the first time, and it instantly became one of my favourite films. Of course, I immediately thought of you, my readers scattered around the globe like so many flickering stars, and I wanted very much to tell you all about it.
The film is by Thai director/auteur Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and it's set in two different times in some kind of hospital. A lot of the shots remind me of Sophia Coppola's style, except without the bored rich people (I just watched Somewhere, it was pretty good I must say).
There's not really a plot that makes sense, It's more about people living together and interacting with one another and in nature. So, I've included three, count them THREE video clips. I hope you like them
The film is by Thai director/auteur Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and it's set in two different times in some kind of hospital. A lot of the shots remind me of Sophia Coppola's style, except without the bored rich people (I just watched Somewhere, it was pretty good I must say).
There's not really a plot that makes sense, It's more about people living together and interacting with one another and in nature. So, I've included three, count them THREE video clips. I hope you like them
THE FIRST STEP IS TO STERILISE MY BIOREACTOR
Title: A random quote I saw when watching a TV program about...making food.
Music: Cardiacs "Burn Your House Brown." yummers.
SPARKLE THE DARK UP
OK today's film selection is called "Mysterious Skin," starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He's one of my favourite actors because he makes good choices and (I think) looks at his career as a long term exploration of character and development of his craft. Even when he does a blockbuster, it's "Inception"
So, "Mysterious Skin" is a really good film about coming of age in a small town in the American South where nothing ever really happens - on the surface. Underneath the still landscape though, the characters have to make sense of scars they've had since they were little kids. I don't want to summarise it too much because that would basically give everything away. Just look at the preview I guess. :o)]
[Post title comes from an exhibition currently happening at the London's Design Museum called Design Overtime]
COME ONE, COME ALL
Complexd have only gone and done a lovely vintage issue! Love this magazine and glad to be involved. Here are some of my favourite images, sketches by designer and illustrator Priscila Molin.
[Today's title comes from the Task Force song "Buttafly's Reprise." UK hip hop produces some rare gems that I couldn't imagine coming from anywhere else. Gorgeous.]
GUESS WHO I AM? ME!
شكرا لك.
I asked my sister to recommend some Arabic singers to me, and she said I should try and find some Nancy Ajram. So here it is! I like the clothing and makeup as well.
[Today's title comes from one of the few words I can say in Arabic, which is "Ihank you." In Egyptian pronunciation it sounds like "SHOOK-a-ran." :o)]
[Today's title comes from one of the few words I can say in Arabic, which is "Ihank you." In Egyptian pronunciation it sounds like "SHOOK-a-ran." :o)]
THERE'S ONLY ROOM FOR ONE AND HERE I COME, HERE I COME
I was in a bad mood last week, so I boogied on down to House of Fraser to see if I couldn't sort myself out.
As you may know, Biba recently launched a comeback collection which is available only at House of Fraser. I'm a fan of the original line, and I attended the launch of designer Barbara Hulanicki's line with Topshop (I was in the same building as Barbara Hulanicki! I think that makes me a winner).
So anyway, for a variety of reasons, I wanted to see what the new collection was like. It has a "Gossip Girl" sort of luxe and modern marketing strategy, and in a way I thought that was a misstep. A lot of the dresses and tops look like luxurious versions of New Look's winter party dress selection. And I'd rather buy three New Look dresses and get them tailored to fit me rather than one Biba dress that won't be in style next season.
However, certain items really stood out, like the tailored pieces and outerwear. You can't fake the fit of a good blazer, and I was quite impressed by the workmanship of the feathered capes and sequinned boleros. I'd definitely wear these pieces for years so, I were to invest in an authentic Biba, I'd probably go down the outerwear route. Here are some of my favourites:
[Today's title is a modification of a David Bowie lyric from his song: "Suffragette City", included below]
[all images from houseoffraser.co.uk]
As you may know, Biba recently launched a comeback collection which is available only at House of Fraser. I'm a fan of the original line, and I attended the launch of designer Barbara Hulanicki's line with Topshop (I was in the same building as Barbara Hulanicki! I think that makes me a winner).
So anyway, for a variety of reasons, I wanted to see what the new collection was like. It has a "Gossip Girl" sort of luxe and modern marketing strategy, and in a way I thought that was a misstep. A lot of the dresses and tops look like luxurious versions of New Look's winter party dress selection. And I'd rather buy three New Look dresses and get them tailored to fit me rather than one Biba dress that won't be in style next season.
However, certain items really stood out, like the tailored pieces and outerwear. You can't fake the fit of a good blazer, and I was quite impressed by the workmanship of the feathered capes and sequinned boleros. I'd definitely wear these pieces for years so, I were to invest in an authentic Biba, I'd probably go down the outerwear route. Here are some of my favourites:
[Today's title is a modification of a David Bowie lyric from his song: "Suffragette City", included below]
THEN I DEFY YOU, STARS!
Life as an expatriate is interesting and confusing, frustrating and exhilarating. the differences between US and UK cultures are very subtle, and oftentimes it takes years of friendship or knowing someone to realise how differently you think! Sometimes I find myself thinking... "Isn't California supposed to be nice this time of year...?"
I don't see many African Americans on a daily basis (Or monthly. Or yearly.) But no matter how culturally isolated I might THINK I am, I often invoke the memory of of other African Americans who came to Europe before me, like Jimi Hendrix, Eartha Kitt, James Baldwin, Josephine Baker and Nina Simone. It takes a lot to decide, I'm going to go for exactly what I want and see what happens. At times, it almost feels like going against fate.
In a way, I find it very positive to meet new people from all over who have only seen African Americans on TV and in films. They always tell me "You're so different to how I imagined you would be!" Of course, Americans say that to me too, so...
[Anyway, today's post's title of course comes from what Romeo says in Romeo and Juliet when he hears the news of Juliet's (faked) death. One of my favourite films is Baz Luhrman's 1996 version, starring Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio. Seeing this film when I was a kid completely changed my perspective, I was obsessed with it. Aaaaaaaaaand who can forget the scene when they first see each other through the aquarium?????? And the SONG, "Kissing You"?!
Me and my sister and our friends sang this song around the piano like so many alley cats howling at the moon (HAHAHA), imagining it was us falling in love for the first time. Enjoy. xoxo]
THIS ONE'S FOR NUMBER ONE
After two years of blogging, I've finally figured out how to use my automatic timer.
Almost. A tiny bit blurry, but definitely better than before.
I've been wearing lots of stripes lately because they're classic and they go with everything (especially at 6 in the morning when I'm getting dressed). I bought my necklace from a mystery jewellery bag at Brighton Fashion Week.
[Today's musical selection comes from The Pixies - "Debaser". Classic.]
THE DREAMLIFE OF ANGELS
Beautiful Sasha Pivarova editorial -- it reminds me of spending time with my beautiful little niece in the summer, telling stories to kittens under a tree.
[Today's post title comes from the French Film "The Dreamlife of Angels" (La vie rêvée des anges) It's about two French twentysomething girls who are squatting in the house of a girl who is in hospital with a coma. They get part time jobs, hang out with local guys and try to figure things out. I've included the last scene below.]
FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES
I've recently been listening to a lot of female Mexican singers. There are some things you just can't say in English.
YOU'RE PRETTY TO BE SO DARK
This is something people always told me when I was growing up, as if my skin colour were some kind of handicap. My answer was to try and be the best dressed, best groomed woman in the room so that no one could deny that I was just as good as anyone else. Is it perhaps one of the forces behind my blog? Maybe so. I know logically that it's silly to determine your self-worth based on what other people think, but sometimes I need a reminder...
I SEE YOU
I also want to watch Great Wall of Sound again (preview below). It's an amazing film that follows two normal guys as they start a new job working as record company talent scouts. At first, they're very excited about the prospect of finding the next big thing and spending their working day listening to musicians. Little by little though, they begin to realise that their company isn't as reputable as they at first thought. So, theirs is a struggle between their own need to work and survive, and their ideas of right and wrong.
RIDDLE ME THIS
Random old photos of me wearing clothes. By the way, I officially have too many. They're everywhere...!
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