The Lovely Bones.

I recently watched Peter Jackson’s film of Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones.  I’ve liked some of Peter Jackson’s films before (more Meet the Feebles than Lord of the Rings…) and I was intrigued by this film when I first heard about it, but kind of thought it might be too much of a thriller for my taste…  and it is, but incredibly so.

The film is set in Pennsylvania in 1973 and begins to tell the touching and heart-wrenching story of a sweet, and strangely beautiful fourteen year old girl, Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan).  This first part of the film is ephemeral and gauzy like the photographs Susie takes as an aspiring nature photographer.  The crux of the film is not that Susie is murdered (it gives that up on the back of the DVD case) but the struggle and resolution of what happens after.

This film is breathtaking.  Then terk-jerking.  Then absolutely horrifying as it runs the gamut of emotion.  Elements of the grotesque see-saw with images of utopia while many scenes that twist the stomach also please the eye.  For example, the bathroom scene where filth and blood exist in a highly-stylized and surreal white space.  (This scene reminded me a lot of Silent Hill.)  While chilling, the abstraction of this fervent drama evokes beauty and fantasy…  the best and the worst of it.

The entire film was thoughtfully made, from the perfect 1970’s styling and the attentive editing, to the wide and strange  palette of pieces this film is composed of.  For me, it was really Susan Sarandon.

(Images from IGN.com)

Date Night Look: Bright + Bold Lip and Bettie Page Hair

This is my first YouTube video!  In this video I show you how to do a bit of a retro-pin up look, inspired by one of my heroines, Bettie Page, and also Beyonce’s look in Lady Gaga’s Telephone video.  To view the mark. products I used in this video please visit my mark eBoutique. Hope you like it! Let me know what you think!

Obsession du Jour: Fashion Film

As part of my thesis work for my MFA in Media Design I am researching fashion films as well as the impact of fashion on film and vice versa.  Motion graphics and video art have always been my favorite mediums to work in.  Through my initial research I’ve found so many amazing short films that merge video art and experimental film narrative with beautiful clothes.  I’m interested in the idea of the story that a beautiful piece of clothing or a collection inspires.

Here are a few videos I’ve found that I’m really into.

And anyone who was a fan of Sofia Coppola’s Miss Dior Cherie Commercial (a forever favorite of mine) will enjoy the new Tucker by Gaby Basora Web Shop video viewable on Facebook.

What I Wore: The Owls Are Not What They Seem

Life has been Lynchian as of late… I thought I might dress the part.

My favorite garment to bring out in the spring is my beloved owl skirt. It has actually been requested by friends lately as it seems to be their favorite as well. It was purchased in a church basement thrift store in a $1 bag sale during high school. It has seen many incarnations since. Playing it up a little more ladylike is how the owl skirt fits in this spring.

© Ciara Pickering 2010

© Ciara Pickering 2010

© Ciara Pickering 2010

Cardigan – Rodarte for Target

Tank – Forever 21

Belt – Old Navy

Skirt – thrifted treasure

Heels – vintage

What I Wore: Mid-Century Modern

© Ciara Pickering 2010

© Ciara Pickering 2010

© Ciara Pickering 2010

© Ciara Pickering 2010

© Ciara Pickering 2010

Cardigan & Polo – thrifted Lacoste

Belt – Mom’s from the early 80s

Jeans – Express

Zebra Shoes – K-mart

What I Wore: Outfits from this week

We have had the strangest weather – from bright, sunny and 65 to wet and snowy (?!) – all in a matter of days. Asheville is treating us well and is beginning to feel like home.  I haven’t done an outfit post in a while (what photographable outfit does one wear while moving and unpacking, anyway? haha) so here are a few things I wore this week.

cardigan & skirt - old navy, t-shirt - express, lavender docs - thrifted

hand-dyed raw silk kimono - ArtaCloaks

Jewelry by Flying Lizard + Bellissima on Gilt Fuse

SALE STARTS 3/22 NOON EDT – “Wear your art on your sleeve with the unique designs from Flying Lizard and Bellissima Jewelry. From stone fringe earrings to bird pendants and knot cuffs, these pieces fuse vintage and semiprecious materials to create statement-making jewelry that’s both pretty and playful.”

Just came across the Flying Lizard and Bellissima sale on Gilt Fuse and I am in love.  I’m particularly drawn to the chunky chain link necklace and acetate flower rings by Bellissima.  Here are some of my favorites.

BELLISSIMA CHAIN LINK NECKLACE $44 GILT FUSE

BELLISSIMA HEART COMPACT MIRROR $12 GILT FUSE

BELLISSIMA RECTANGLE LINK NECKLACE $54 GILT FUSE

BELLISSIMA FLOWER RING $16 GILT FUSE

FLYING LIZARD OUTLINE FLOWER EARRINGS $18 GILT FUSE

FLYING LIZARD CHAIN TASSEL EARRINGS $15 GILT FUSE

FLYING LIZARD PEARL DROP EARRINGS $38 GILT FUSE

FLYING LIZARD SIZED LINK NECKLACE $22 GILT FUSE

Images from Gilt Fuse.

Laying Roots: New Home

So, we are finally 99.9% settled in our new apartment.  We’re in a great neighborhood and location with a park right around the corner where we walk and play with the dogs.  We still have a few boxes of squirrely odds-and-ends to figure out what exactly to do with…  but for the most part we are unpacked.  Here are a few photos of the living room and bedroom.

hifi, quintessential Gray Bowen painting, blown-glass heart by Tracy Kirchman

street-facing windows, record collection, leopard-framed photo of Clark, guitar, saint candles

couch, nautilus wall, Gray and sleepy puppyX2

station: I am currently here, wonderful peagle, roughly a third of my books...

sleep here, 3rd generation awesome headboard, painting by a former neighbor of my grandmother

We’re still getting the other rooms put together but I’m into the high ceilings and the huge bathtub and black and white checkerboard tile in the bathroom.

Alexander McQueen: Final Collection, Paris 2010

Sorry for my absence as of late – we have finally made the move to Asheville, NC!  I’ve been unpacking and getting all of those moving details squared away for the past while.  I will be getting some photographs of my new home and the style of the Asheville streets very soon.  But first I have to unpack my closet…  😉

Yesterday I came across images from Alexander McQueen’s final collection and a beautifully written article about the legend and his last works.  The 16-piece collection was only at 80% completion at the time of his death and draws inspiration from the art of the Dark Ages but with a new perspective, incorporating mohawk, feathered headpieces and specially ordered fabric that translated digital photographs of demons by Hieronymus Bosch and high-church angels.  I feel a kinship to this concept of juxtaposing the new and the old, the digital and the…  analog, art and technology.  It is one element as to why I’ve always been such a fan of Alexander McQueen.

Here are a few of my favorites from the collection.  View the entire collection at style.com.

I can’t help but think that these pieces are only a small part of the entire vision.  One can only imagine what artistry would have encapsulated this collection on the runway.  The simple and intimate showing of this final collection may not have been what McQueen had in mind –  it was his showmanship as well as his garments that made him what he was – but it offered his close friends and colleagues a moment to reflect and one last look.

Photos:

style.com via
Christopher Moore / Courtesy of Alexander McQueen

NYFW: Rag & Bone Fall 2010 RTW

Though Rag & Bone duo David Neville and Marcus Wainwright have been designing for women since 2005, their Fall 2010 RTW show is the first time their women’s collection has been shown apart from the menswear.  They explained that their inspiration for this collection was taken from the “crazy English guys who climbed Mount Everest in the twenties in tweed.”  Ah-ha.  As a fan of knits (gosh, I love me some “sweater-dressing”) I was thrilled to peruse the images from this show full of textures and patterns that make me not dread the continuous freeeeezing weather everyone seems to be experiencing this winter.  Here are some of my favorite samplings from the show.

Rag & Bone Fall 2010 RTW

Rag & Bone Fall 2010 RTW

Rag & Bone Fall 2010 RTW

Rag & Bone Fall 2010 RTW

Rag & Bone Fall 2010 RTW

Rag & Bone Fall 2010 RTW

Rag & Bone Fall 2010 RTW

Rag & Bone Fall 2010 RTW

View the entire collection at Style.com

And for all of you fashionistas who, like myself, are sadly not in NYC to enjoy NYFW first hand…  I present to you a selection of shows that are available to watch live streaming online.  Here’s the who and where for you to schedule in:

• Alexander Wang – Feb. 13 at 5 p.m.
• Calvin Klein Menswear – Sunday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m.
• Mark Jacobs – Monday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m.
• Rodarte – Thursday, Feb. 16 at 12 p.m.
• Calvin Klein Womenswear – Thursday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m.

Via NBCNewYork