Fashion History 101: YSL: LOVE

The Meaning of Love: YSL

There is something that is so uncomplicated about YSL's tributes to other artists. Each instance is a simple dedication, a nod of thanks and reverence.

To Piet Mondrian, a simple shift, a handshake of influence and inspiration. He taught us simplicity and the form is brought down to the simplest of shapes: two lines. But the feminine body is not reduced, it is outlined.

To Aragon and the surrealists, draping velvet and luscious colour like long kisses. They pulled apart everyday life and made it indistinguishable from our dreams, and the contours of the silhouette are likewise stretched to become something curiously recognizable. The symbolic order of the feminine body is reconstructed from patient mothering hour glass to an exaggerated matador.

Street Style Example #1

My friend Kate is always reminding me that gray is a colour. Whatever, it looks good regardless.

Street Style 101: Personal Style

Personal style.
This course will focus on just that. What is style? How does one achieve style? Can I see some examples? You sure can. Let me start off by saying that just like not everyone can be a doctor, not everyone can have style. Some people are just naturally stylish that is just the way it goes. Don't let this discourage you, accept it and keep interning at St. Michaels (stylish people get sick too). Obtaining this title does not require money, just a creative imagination and a spoonful of confidence. We will provide you with examples to analyze and take inspiration from. By the end of this term you too may grace the pages of this ever-so-stylish blog.
FYI: modesty is so last year.

Film Meets Fashion: Italian Beauty Lesson 1

In either of her roles as a Fellini woman, Anouk Aimee stands as a testament that boldness of address is likewise boldness in dress. Anouk. A single simple syllable. Forward in desire, intent; avant in her appearance.

Cast in opposition to lavish blonds and twinkies, Anouk stands firm with her high cheekbones and simple lines. Her style is architectural, not natural. The boldness of form mimics her boldness in the way she expresses her desire (for independent, and yet simultaneously for marriage in La DV) and her disgust (for her cheating husband in 8 1/2).

Bold geometric shapes are used to frame the body. Solid colours add definition. The collarbone, the cheekbone, and the eyebrow: the slight textures of the body are highlighted.

The Break up - Faded love for Nylon magazine

I remember purchasing the very first issue as if it happened yesterday. I was 18 and had just moved to Canmore, Alberta. Feeling lonely and bored in a small convenient store, I saw Liv Tyler’s blurry image gazing at me from the magazine rack. This is where my Nylon experience began.

Like any new relationship, there were butterflies in my stomach as I opened the cover and learned what Nylon was all about. From the very first issue--packed with info on all the up and coming indie music, films, art and fashion in the scene--I immediately fell in love with this off the cuff mag. Not a single mention of what the typical Hollywood stars were up to or wearing; finding Nylon was a dream come true. Finally, a fashion magazine I could relate to and actually learn something from.

I felt like I had stumbled upon a secret that needed to be exposed. I had to remain calm. We had just met. It was the very first issue, and we all know how first can also mean last. I decided to not jump into anything and just play it out casually. 10 years later I was still receiving monthly issues via my mailbox.

I owe a lot to this magazine. It was my introduction to many great musicians, artists, actors/actresses, cultures, films, and fashion. But, I felt my love slowly fading with each issue. I had even caught myself looking around at other magazines.

I guess it all started when I excitedly pulled the April 2007 issue from my mailbox to find Christina Aguilera in a busty pose on the cover. At first I thought it was a mistake, maybe they sent me the wrong magazine but the big blocked NYLON logo was sitting at the top of the page, and not FHM. I felt a sadness in my heart. I can relate this sadness only to finding out the new guy your into thinks that Nickelback is talented. I hoped that it was just a one-off. Maybe the editor was on vacation and left his teenage sister in charge? I decided to let it slide. Imagine my disappointment when I received Lindsay Lohan’s crotch shot on the May issue. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Lindsay and Christina (or crotch shots); I just don’t care about them and didn’t think Nylon did either. There are so many magazines for that type of audience and I happily never put Nylon into that category.

Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be? Maybe I am not a one-magazine girl. Open relationships are considered the norm these days. It’s not that Nylon doesn’t have good intentions; it has just changed a lot over the years. We no longer share the same interests. Nylon appears to be losing it’s confidence and seems to be seeking out trends in a desperate manner instead of its old ways of just discovering what creative people are doing. I have nothing bad to say about Nylon and I have no regrets about our years spent together, but I think I am ready to move on. I want to believe that there is a magazine out there for all of us and I am not quite ready to give up on this belief. I did not renew my subscription this May and I feel ok about it. I will still continue to check it out on the magazine rack just to see how things are going, possibly even purchase the occasional issue if it looks interesting, but our monthly commitment has definitely come to an end. Just because we will not grow old together like I once thought, we still had a good run. Goodbye Nylon. Goodbye.

Smart People (2008): Contemporary Film Criticism 101

Smart People provides for moments of satire. We witness Vanessa (Page) simultaneously 'slumming it' and loosely attempting incest--she protests that she is adopted--when drunk for the first time. And, Lawrence's trials and tribulations, largely brought on by the shadow of his professorial ego, provide for more than a few instances of relief. But, the depiction of awkward departmental meetings captures boredom, but seems more like boardroom antics than the typical cattiness of academe.

Our well cast family is rounded out by Sarah Jessica Parker, who maintains a smug smirk and a stiff upper lip during moments that make you wish she'd whip off her heels and let them fly. Though this character is shades away from SATC's Carrie Bradshaw, SJP manages to give more depth than Juno's Ellen Page, who maintains a quirky smart aleck monotone consistently.

Over all, this film left me tossing my hands in the air wondering how smart writers could possibly have thought that smart audiences would have been okay with the plot of this film. For those of you expecting something in the mood of Noah Baumbach or Nicole Holofcenter guess again. The plot twist doesn't take us down a cynical or sardonic route, but instead leads us down the path of least resistance toward a polite rom. com. in which our self-absorbed Professor shifts from stern pedagogue to something a little more Socratic--hard to believe, and harder to watch.

I think I have to change the name of this blog, well at least this entry. I have just graduated with a Paris Social Degree, majoring in spectacular sex scenes. To add to the fashion in film entry, did anyone happen to notice the hottest fully clothed sex scene ever in the same flick? Obviously you did, along with every other pair of lucky Last Tango in Paris exposed eyes. God damn. I am looking for diggs in Paris as of now.

Au revoir.