Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Topshop is Coming to Canada!

Fashionistas rejoice! British fashion retailer, Topshop, is coming to Canada. In partnership with The Bay, there will boutiques within the department stores, as well as free-standing stores. I have been to the flagship store in London's Oxford Circus, and it is amazing. Topshop is bit like Zara, featuring up-to-the minute fashions at easily accessible price points, but with a mix of brands. And also amazing shoes. Kate Moss and Sienna Miller are both fans, and in the past Kate has done capsule collections for the brand. I really hope it doesn't take too long for Topshop to make it's way out west...I'm already making room in my closet! topshop unique spring 2011 women collection kate-moss-topshop-06

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

In Loving Memory of Elizabeth Taylor

The world has lost one of its greats. Elizabeth Taylor passed away on March 23rd, 2011. One of the most talented and beautiful actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age, with her bewitching violet eyes, she will not soon be forgotten. She won two Academy Awards, for her performances in Butterfield 8 and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, as well as a Humanitarian Academy Award for her work fighting AIDS. In the 1950s she was voted the most beautiful woman in the world.



Throughout her colourful life she was married eight times, twice to the same man. That man was Richard Burton, whom she called the love of her life. In one of her last interviews, she was asked if he were still alive would they have been married again, and her reply was, "It was inevtitable that we would be married again, but it's not up for discussion." According to reports, she had saved all the love letters he had ever written her. Theirs was a love story for the ages. Perhaps the two are reunited at last.


Elizabeth Taylor is best known for her roles in National Velvet, A Place in the Sun, and of course, Cleopatra. She met Burton on the set of Cleopatra; apparently during the filming of a love scene the director had to yell "Cut!" several times before they broke apart. The term "paparazzi" was coined during the filming in Rome in response to the chaos that follwed the pair as they began their romance.


I am not sure there has been a stonger woman in Hollywood than Elizabeth Taylor. She has survived divorces, widowhood, alcoholism, and multiple illness, all the while being scrutinized by the public. A woman of true gumption, she will forever live on in our hearts.











Photo





With Richard Burton, wearing the famous Burton-Taylor diamond, weighing in at 69.42 carats.




Taylor as Cleopatra.







With Paul Newman in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.


Wearing a turban, a fashion statement Taylor championed.



A still from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.




With Burton in Cleopatra.


Fabulous headdress.


In National Velvet at age 12.



The famous violet eyes.

Farewell, Elizabeth. We will never forget you.









Saturday, March 5, 2011

The 83rd Academy Awards

I am disappointed to say that this year's Oscars were the worst I have ever seen since I first started watching, about ten years ago. This goes for everything; the dresses, the hosts, the ceremony, the live performances of the best song nominees, just everything. The sad part is - aside from the whole thing - is that the selection of films nominated were all terrific. They sure did a poor job of giving the nominees the type of celebration they deserve. Now, on to the fashion. Since it was such a poor showing, I am going to classify the dresses simply as good or bad. Let me know what you think about the leading ladies fashion choices!

The Good


Natalie Portman in Rodarte.
This is pretty enough to wear even when you're not preggers.


Mila Kunis in Elie Saab.
Gorgeous, so flowing and feminine, and the hair and makeup looks flawless.


Hilary Swank in Gucci.
I love this, and it's a little bit edgy with the ombre-effect feathers.



Anne Hathaway in Givenchy.
Sadly, this was the only one of her many looks that I liked, all the rest were a yawn. Her stylist, Rachael Zoe, gets a big, fat FAIL.

The Bad


Nicole Kidman in Dior.
Terribly unflattering shape and the embroidery is awful. It looks like a hideous beadspread that you always find in old people's spare bedrooms.


Marisa Tomei in vintage Charles James.
All kinds of wrong. It doesn't even fit her properly!


Melissa Leo in Marc Bauer.
Dear Melissa Leo: This will forever be what you wore to accept your Academy Award. You must live with this fact forever.

Jennifer Hudson in Versace.
After losing so much weight, it's a shame she didn't wear something better. The colour is okay, but the fabric is awful and cheap-looking, the shape is boring and something really weird is happening with her boobs.