Miranda Kerr Spanish Vogue September 2010

Have you seen Victoria's Secret Angel Miranda Kerr on the cover of Spanish Vogue September 2010 issue? She looked stunning and I love her fashion styles for the magazine spreads. The inside pages of the said magazine shows Miranda Kerr in chic spaghetti-strapped dress and vibrant lime green one-piece bikini.



See the rest of Miranda Kerr's photos for Spanish Vogue September 2010 issue.






Photo Source:sassisamblog

Julianne Moore Controversial Bulgari Ads

The first batch of Julianne Moore's Bulgari Ads was released last January. I didn't heard any violent reactions for the ads back then. However, just recently, I read a news article from Telegraph that the guardians of decorum in Venice said that a billboard of Julianne Moore who posed naked with Bulgari handbag and two lion cubs is "inappropriate".


What's your opinion on this controversy?

Bono in Louis Vuitton Latest Core Values Ad

The latest "Core Values" of Louis Vuitton features U2 front man Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson. The couple wore clothes from Edun, the clothing label that promotes trade with Africa. The tote bag that has been carried by Ali was co-designed by by Edun and Vuitton.

The latest Louis Vuitton Core Values ad was shot in South Africa where Bono and Ali disembarked from a small airplane. Carrying a “Every journey began in Africa” tag line, this ad will appear in September on daily newspapers and in October on fashion magazines.

Photo Source: WWD

Emmy Awards 2010 Red Carpet Fashion

Everyone was excited who won at the 2010 Emmy Awards. But to fashionistas like us, we are more interested on the red carpet fashion styles of celebrities who attended the event. Here are some of the stars in their chosen gowns!

Glee star Lea Michele in Oscar de la Renta dress and Brian Atwood shoes
Glee star Dianna Agron in Carolina Herrera Resort 2011 gown.


Glee star Naya Rivera in a Simin dress, Jimmy Choo shoes and Judith Leiber clutch.
Glee actress Jane Lynch in an eggplant Ali Rahimi asymmetrical gown.


Singer Jewel in Zuhair Murad gown.
Kim Kardashian in white Marchesa dress.


Heidi Klum in a Marchesa mini dress.
Christina Hendricks in Zac Posen dress.


Claire Danes in Armani Prive gown.
Mad Men actress January Jones in a Versace dress and Miu Miu heels.


True Blood actress Anna Paquin in Alexander McQueen dress and YSL shoes.
Tina Fey in a black silk organza embroidered gown with white satin underlay by Oscar de la Renta and Guiseppe Zanotti shoes.

Photo Source: Just Jared

Zoe Saldana Calvin Klein Ads

Last month, the Calvin Klein print ads the features Avatar star Zoe Saldana had been revealed. Now, before the month of August ends, Calvin Klein released the teaser of the commercial.



If you want to see other print ads, read the rest of the entry.



Photo Source: InStyle.com

Bring Back the Blue Laws

If you're under a certain age, then you don't remember a time when stores were closed on Sundays. Imagine running out of milk. Sorry, you're out of luck. You'd have to borrow it from a neighbor until the grocery store reopened on Monday. There was no such thing as department stores advertising early openings and special Sunday sales in the morning paper - they simply weren't open for business. The practice of keeping businesses closed on Sundays was known here in the States as the "blue laws." Although I am unsure about the color choice, sources say the rule goes back to Puritan times, when a day of rest was mandated on Sundays so that people would be able to attend religious services. Because of their close association with religion, they were slowly considered more and more unconstitutional towards the end of the 20th century, and today pretty much every state in America no longer enforces them.

I'm all for bringing them back. I realize this may inconvenience a lot of people, but hear me out. I believe the benefits of reinstating "closed on Sundays" would be beneficial to us all. I know of at least one person who would agree with me - Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. He wrote a book called The Blessing of Enough where he discusses how obsessed our current society has become with acquiring material wealth, while we're missing out on what really matters in life. In a related blog post that he wrote for The Huffington Post, the good rabbi remembers when all stores were closed on Sundays - not only to provide a day off for retail workers, but to give people time to reconnect with their family and friends. Today, he says, even on the most glorious of days, most people it seems would rather spend time filling their eyeballs with the flourescent lights of the mall or the local Home Depot on a Sunday, instead of doing something that matters. He also believes having such unlimited access to being able to shop and spend at any time has definitely contributed to our materialism and economic state, and it has created a nation of dull people who no longer have any hobbies.

The way the rabbi and I see it, here's what the benefits of reinstating the blue laws would be:

1. Reduced Sunday Traffic

How peaceful it would be if stores were closed on Sunday again. No one hitting the roads early for those early morning specials. There might also be less obnoxious advertising in the Sunday papers.

2. More Time to Spend With, Not Spend On

Before the repeal of the blue laws, people would attend religious services, then share a meal with family and/or friends. Without a place to go to needlessly spend their money, people might actually rekindle more productive activities and get a life towards the end of the weekend.

3. A Break for Service People

Take it from someone who worked in the hotel industry for over five years - anyone working a service job deserves a guaranteed day off each week. OK, hotels are open 24/7 but retail workers should get a break like the rest of us. Even most banks are now open on Sundays - which proves just how little anything is sacred anymore.

A New Jersey mayor tried to argue with Boteach that keeping stores closed for even one day hurts the economy. Boteach explained that when 9/11 happened, Bush instructed the American people to "go to Disney World" and essentially spend their money. We know how well that advice turned out. Our enormous spending has not only put us in tremendous debt but has led to a spiritual deficit as well. Americans don't seem to have many hobbies these days or appreciate how it feels to spend time with other humans. 

Of course the downside to bringing back the blue laws is that the stores and roads will suddenly be flooded with even more people during the work week and on Saturdays. But in my opinion, that's a small price to pay for one day of mandatory sanity every seven days. 

Two Forgotten Friday Favorites: Basia

I'm not sure who else remembers or who is a fan of this lady from the 80s, but I've been meaning to post about Basia for months now. I've been a fan for years and finally saw her in concert earlier this summer - she still sounds and looks as splendid as ever, and is currently touring to promote her latest album, It's That Girl Again. Basia is a Polish singer with a romantic, jazzy style (she's sort of like the Polish Sade) who has enjoyed more success in Europe and Japan than she did in the States, but she does have a lot of American fans, and I have always loved her music for its optimistic message. Her new album is pretty good, but my favorites will always be her first two from the 80s, Time and Tide and London, Warsaw, New York. 

Basia's early group was a UK band called Matt Bianco (one of the other members, Danny White, said the name was meant to sound like a 60s spy character.) The other members were Kito Poncioni, and Mark Reilly. Basia and White split from the group to pursue her solo career and White is still in her current band. 

Needless to say it's so hard for me to choose just two songs, but here's Baby You're Mine and Drunk on Love (the latter is actually from her 1994 album, The Sweetest Illusion.) Just really sweet sounding music - and I love her dress and hat in the Baby You're Mine video. 

Have a wonderful weekend, everybody!

Three Ads Too Good Not To Share #6

More retro fun from 1971...

1. Hate to say it, lady, but if you're at the point where you're seeing talking cigarettes, then you're smoking something stronger than nicotine. I love that her husband is so nerdy looking and shorter than her; it looks like Artie Johnson and Goldie Hawn got married on Laugh-In.

2. The least convincing ad I've ever seen for birth control. Isn't the whole point of using it NOT to have a baby? "Needs no douche"...except for the one you're planning on having sex with. And what is with the douching obsession of the 70s? I'm saving a whole slew of ads for feminine odor products that I found in just two vintage magazines for a future post. 

3. Coffee and Kent...and dragon breath. A most delightful combination to smell anytime when kissing someone. This guy must have women banging down his door for dates, huh?

Deep Thoughts With Dr. Spock

Most people are familiar with William Shatner's musical dabblings, but I wonder how many people knew that Leonard Nimoy published poetry? (Actually, Nimoy is quite the arteest: he photographs and also recorded five albums of his own.) I came across this cover on Awful Library Books (totally worth a visit if you need some laughs) and I have to say the featured poem is quite poignant for modern times. Nimoy's just an old fashioned spaceman:

Here's some more great stuff. A little warning, though: it may just blow your mind.

You Fill Me With Your Love 

You fill me
With your love
You fill me

With your caring
You fill me
With your thoughts

You fill me
With your sharing

Thank You For A World Of Kindness

 Thank you
For a world
Of kindness

Thank you
For your
Endless patience

Thank you
For your
Sensitive understanding

Thank you
For Your
Love

Because

Because
I have known despair
I value hope

Because
I have tasted frustration
I value fulfillment

Because
I have been lonely
I value love

Thanks to The Retroist for printing those poems. Don't you now feel complete? OK, that's not fair - some of his other stuff isn't all that bad. However...

I much prefer the music of Nimoy. I actually think he's a better crooner than Shatner (who mostly spoke interpretations of songs.) Feast your eyes and ears on this groovefest known as the The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins. It certainly takes music to where it has never boldly gone before.

It's weird - the video is only one minute and 36 seconds long, but feels much longer.

Fashion Style: Jessica Alba in Balmain

Jessica Alba appeared at the LA Premiere for “Machete” in a black and gold sequined zigzag patterned Balmain mini dress. She also paired it with Christian Louboutin Tinazata 120 cut-out boots.

Glee Clothing Line Launched!

The Glee fever is unstoppable! The popular TV show had a clothing line for the fans. Known as "Gleek", Glee's fashion line includes shirts, tops and hoodies. They are available at Macy's.




Photo Source: People.com

The TV Dinner Gourmet Makeover

Note to the editors of Family Circle, circa 1971: adding embellishments to TV dinners does not make them ready for Bon Appetit magazine! This wacky article from back in the day shows how you can "glamorize" (their word, not mine) ordinary frozen meals. Some of the pepper-uppers are no-brainers and/or quite odd: rolled up salami cones for macaroni and cheese, and halfed cherry tomatoes mixed with corn. Pine nuts in your fruit compote and pimentos in peas say instant mmmmmmm. Something called onion bits were sprinkled onto the mashed potatoes, and "fish-shaped nibbles" float in the tomato soup. Um, you mean goldfish crackers?

Actually, they don't look all that bad. I admit that I used to love TV dinners when I was a kid - never mind that they were full of salty, processed excuses for meat. My favorite dessert was the chocolate cake/brownie.

Before and after pictures below...quite the inspiration for the aspiring retro chef:

Miss Universe 2010 Fashion Style

Yesterday,Jimena Navarrete of Mexico was hailed as the Miss Universe 2010. She received her crown wearing asymmetrical red satin dress by Sherri Hill, chandelier earrings and a bracelet from Diamond Nexux Labs.


Once again, let's see her fashion styles last night.


Navarette wore a studded purple bikini from Dar Be Dar.


She also wore a red Sherri Hill gown with a slit on the side and asymmetrical neckline.


For the party after the pageant, Miss Universe 2010 wore a chic silver gown.

Rachel Zoe Became Barbie's Stylist

Rachel Zoe's popularity as fashion stylist of celebrities can't be stopped. On the upcoming episode of The Rachel Zoe Project, she will dress Barbie for a red carpet event. So if you want to see the black and pink gown designed by Rachel Zoe for Barbie, don't miss tonight's episode.

There's more! To support the Project Angel Food foundation, a Rachel Zoe Barbie doll is being auction at CharityBuzz.com. The Rachel Zoe Barbie doll sports a flare jeans, Chanel boucle jacket and Hermes Birkin bag.



Photo Source: InStyle.com

No Way Macrame

This weekend I went to an open market in South Boston and much to my delight, was excited to see the huge vintage flea market component to it - a treat for any retrophile. In addition to snatching up a 1960s tea/coffee set made in Germany for only $50, I also brought home a couple of groovy Family Circle mags from 1971. Chock-full of lots of good, bad, and ugly retro stuff, I plan on scanning them piecemeal. First up is this feature on macrame!

Of all of the vintage crafts and fads that were invented during the 20th century, I probably get macrame the least. Who possibly thought it would make a good craft, who actually made macrame and most importantly, why? Doing some quick Googling reveals that it actually goes back thousands of years and was popular in Victorian times, but its heyday was clearly the 70s. At first I thought it was an easy alternative to those who couldn't or didn't want to knit and crochet, until I read the actual directions that accompanies these images. Some of the projects look quite complicated - and you also need to dye the sisal and twine to achieve the colors you want. 

But more than that, and no offense to anyone who does/did the craft, but I just don't think anything aesthetically appealing was ever created using macrame. It will always be the epitome of awful 70s fashion/fads, I'm afraid. See for yourself with this scanned article. Martha Stewart would never touch this stuff. Who the heck wants to wear or hang up things made out of rope? 

Of course - a shag purse to match your shag rug!

Kind of a risque picture for Family Circle! It doesn't distract from how hideous those "barefoot sandals" are, though (but then again, I'm not a guy.) The magazine calls the thing around her neck a dog collar - I call it animal cruelty.

Not sure what the point of the armband is, but then again if there is a point to any of this, will someone let me know?