Neckties for Girls

I love the look of tie-neck blouses. It's a feminine neck-tie, attached to your blouse (not that neck-ties can't be fierce fashion accessories). The name is even switched around: neck-tie, tie-neck. Anyway, Heidi Klum wore an adorable short-sleeve plaid blouse with a tie-neck on the last episode of Project Runway. She wore it with a great pair of skinny jeans and a thick belt and pumps. And all I was thinking was, "I want it!" I've been trying to find a picture of it.

I love the way the tie-neck looks tied into a cute bow at the neck. It just adds that little extra something to the outfit.

And speaking of necks, neck-ties are not just for guys. Girls can wear them, too. Emulate Annie Hall: Or Diane Keaton at award shows decades after Annie Hall, or Lindsay Lohan in Premiere trying to look like Annie Hall. Just throw on a vest and a tie and a pair of casual yet sophisticated trousers.

And to learn how to tie a neck-tie, go here.

Gimme the Scoop

Jackman, Johansson, & Allen

I saw Scoop, a film I've been dying to see ever since I first saw the trailer. It was written and directed by Woody Allen, and stars Allen, Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, and Ian McShane. Romola Garai also has a small role. She played Cassandra in one of my favorite movies, I Capture the Castle. Anyway, Scoop tells the story of a journalism student (Johansson) visiting London, who is put in a spirit box during a performance of The Great Splendini (Allen). A spirit (McShane) actually appears to her, and gives her a scoop on a murder case involving the son of a lord (Jackman). Her and Allen investigate the murders, following Jackman around to pick up clues to use against him. But meanwhile, Johansson falls in love with the man she's investigating.

I really enjoyed this movie because it was full of mystery and intelligent comedy. I was discussing before how I appreciate comedy when it's intelligent and doesn't involve a bunch of toilet humor. This is an example of intelligent comedy. I also like Monty Python, but that's an entirely different story.

My new anticipated film? Little Miss Sunshine.

Double Take

Click for larger version

I bought an issue of Vogue today, just to drool over the ridiculously expensive clothes I can't have, and to Post-it things I like so I can recreate them for less moolah. Flipping through, I caught sight of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in a delightfully mod photograph. I love the look, and the dresses, by Isaac Mizrahi, are to die for (not literally, but almost). I love this look much better than the bag lady look in which they are perennially drowning. They are wonderfully petite, and they need the clothes to match. This photograph sums up what I'm looking forward to most about fall fashion: mod shift dresses, platform heels, and black tights. It's very simple, but you make a bolder statement than if you were wearing three tons of accessories. I can't stop staring at the gorgeous dresses, the bobbed hair, the raised eyebrows, kissy lips of Ashley (I told you it was chic.), the slouchy poses. It's fierce, or, to use the words of a movie reviewer writing about The Devil Wears Prada* ... delicious!

Surprisingly, Vogue also featured a Wal-Mart advertisement (*gasp*) and a Payless ad featuring my shoes! They're also in the latest Payless commercial for (*gulp*) Back to School, or as I like to call it ... Back to the Prison. I never would have thought I would own something in Vogue. Is that a sign of a true fashionista? Probably not, considering it was a Payless ad, but it's a start.

*"Meryl Streep is delicious."

Breaking Up is Hard to Understand

I finally saw The Break-Up, and the audience reaction was interesting.

One of the reasons I love going to the movie theater is to hear people's reactions to the movie, when it doesn't include having your cell phone ring in the middle of a serious scene. I was especially fascinated by the audience in The Break-Up. First of all, the film took a surprising turn by becoming a dramedy, as opposed to the light-hearted comedy people were expecting. So when suddenly the audience was faced with a serious scene without jokes, I could sense their worry. So what does a nervous audience do when all of a sudden their beloved mindless comedy turns into a thoughtful, realistic drama? They laugh. Even though there was no joke. It was as if they were at a horror movie nervouosly laughing during a suspenseful scene. Watching Vince Vaughn in a dramatic scene was frightening for them. Either that or they felt they were missing the joke, so they figured they would laugh just in case.

Now, I don't want to ruin the film for anybody, because I hate having films ruined for me, but I have to say that at the very end people let out a uniform giggle/gasp, because the ending wasn't expected, even though it really should have been, given the subject matter.

I think dramedies are becoming popular. The movie companies are marketing their films as comedies, and then secretly teaching their audience a lesson by turning the film into a dramedy. I actually think that's a good idea to make movies successful, even though it's kind of sad that the only reason people will see a movie is because it looks like mindless comedy. I love comedy, but when it's intelligent and done right, not when it's full of toilet humor.

Needless to say, I really liked the movie, because I love dramedies. The audience, on the other hand, probably walked out of the theater in a state of shock and confusion.

Two Capotes Better than One?

I was watching Entertainment Tonight yesterday, and Leonard Maltin (whose movie guide is my Bible) was talking about a new movie coming out this fall called Infamous. The plot may sound familiar. It's about Truman Capote researching In Cold Blood. They showed the trailer on the show just as I turned it on, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing for two reasons:

1. I had just finished reading In Cold Blood.
2. Capote had just come out less than a year ago, and this movie didn't look as good.

The film stars Toby Jones, known as the voice of Dobby in the Harry Potter movies, as Truman Capote, and Sandra Bullock as Harper Lee. It also stars Daniel Craig as Perry Smith, and Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Daniels, Sigourney Weaver, and Hope Davis also star. Now, I like Sandra Bullock, and I'm sure she'll do a good job, and there are a lot of great actors in it, but it seems like the actors are a little too well known. Capote had lesser-known actors, which I think made it less of a Hollywood picture and more of an artistic film.

Jones as Capote and Craig as Smith

Still, you can't say the film makers copied Capote, because the films were being written at about the same time. I just don't think it will have the success of Capote, because Capote was so good that it'll take a masterpiece to beat it. But who knows? Maybe two Capotes is better than one. Infamous hits theaters October 13.

Afternoon Tea at Target

I visited Target today. There's always been an unspoken conflict between Target shoppers and Wal-Mart shoppers. Everyone has their favorite. I happen to be a Target person. Anyway, I was looking through the clothes and there was this blouse by Mossimo that just called to me. "Jill," it said in an adorably angelic voice, "Look over here. You need me." So looked I did, and this is what I saw:

Of course, it was minus the headless model, plus a plastic hanger. But as soon as I saw it I fell in love, and I had to get it. The best part about the shirt is a tie between the sleeves and collar. But coming in at a close second is the color. Not taupe, not grayish brown, not brownish gray, but Afternoon Tea. And just look at the shirt. It's afternoon tea spun into a sleeveless sweater.

And that got me thinking about color names. I love paint chips. Every time I find myself in a hardware store I collect as many as possible and then use them for art or bookmarks. I match the paint chip to the color of the book's cover. And what's more delightful than paint chip names? I have one in possibly my favorite color ever: Appletini. The name and the color are impossible to hate.

There is a scene in one of my favorite movies, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, in which the two main characters, Clementine and Joel, discuss hair color names. Clementine, whose hair color is constantly changing from one wacky color to another, says, "It's got to be a job coming up with those names." And what a job it would be! I'd love to have that job. I love naming things, if you haven't noticed. Naming colors would never get boring. Whoever came up with "Afternoon Tea" as the color of a shirt is a genius, because not only does the color of the shirt look like afternoon tea; the shirt looks like what you'd wear to afternoon tea. I can't get over the brilliance!

The only problem with the blouse is that every woman who passed it looked at it with the same interest as I was. I hope everyone doesn't start wearing it. I like to think I have a special bond with Afternoon Tea, which is what I've decided to name the shirt as a whole. A name like that just cannot be forgotten.

Pocket Power

Good news for girls who like to hide their hands and/or life in their pockets but still want to look fancy and dressed up!

I was watching E! News last night (It's my guilty pleasure.) and Giuliana Dipandi (whose name is very difficult to spell) was wearing this cute strapless dress with pockets in the front. And as soon as I saw it I gasped, because it reminded me of how popular pockets were at the Oscars (the most important night of the year for me, when I put on a fancy dress, do my hair, sip sparkling apple cidar on my couch, and enjoy two of my favorite things at once: movies and fashion), when Amy Adams and Sandra Bullock both wore gorgeous dresses with pockets. The pockets made the dress more fun and casual, but it was still very elegant. Amy Adams' dress was my favorite that night. I love brown, and the pockets just made it look so unique. Plus, they probably didn't have to carry a clutch, because those tiny clutches aren't much bigger than the pockets anyway. Slip a tube of lipstick in there and secretly pull it out on the red carpet. The paparazzi will think you pulled it out of midair.

Amy Adams at the Academy Awards, 2006

Anyway, I thought I'd use this post to scream out to the fashion world, "Bring pocketed dresses in style soon!" And I thank Giuliana for reminding me of how cool pocketed dresses are. Of course, it also diasappointed me, because, after waiting until the end of the show to catch the credits (which moved by way too quickly), and seeing that the dress was by Ya-Ya, and then looking it up on Google, I found that it costs almost $300. So that was just a reminder to me that even though GD's working the pocketed dress, I'll have to wait a while to partake in the trend, just like skinny jeans, ballet flats, and leggings. Isn't fashion satisfying?

The Dress

Literary Love

I thought I would post all about books. I love books, when I can find good ones. I'd like to talk about a few of my favorite books, as well as some recently read, and my current read. Hey, reading is often the reason people are near-sighted. We need to embrace it like our own child. And hug and kiss it. And give it little gifts, like teddy bears and train sets, and talk to it in baby talk, and... Well, you get the picture.

The first book I'd like to talk about is my favorite book, I Capture the Castle. This novel was written by Dodie Smith, an English writer whose work is little known in the United States, unless you include The One Hundred and One Dalmatians. I was very surprised to find out that she penned that. It was actually based on her own pet Dalmatians. Anyway, I Capture the Castle is told as the journals of Cassandra Mortmain, a teenage girl living with her eccentric family (her dramatic, beautiful older sister Rose; writer father, who has been suffering writer's block for 12 years; bohemian step-mother Topaz; and studious younger brother Thomas; also Stephen, a handsome young man who has lived with them ever since his mother, who worked for the family, died.) in a house built atop the ruins of an English castle during the 1930s. One day a pair of American brothers, who happen to own the home, arrive. They become friendly with the Mortmains, and Rose falls in love with one of them. A sort of love-pentagon forms, including Cassandra and Rose, the two brothers, and Stephen. I love this book because of the narration from Cassandra. She is very relatable and likeable, and the family is delightfully eccentric. I first read this book after seeing the film version, which is also one of my favorite movies.

Some other books I like are Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, about a future in which all books are banned, and any found books are burned; A Separate Peace, about two friends at an all-boys school during World War II; To Kill a Mockingbird, the classic Pulitzer-Prize winner by Harper Lee about a trial in a small town, seen through the eyes of a child; and The Da Vinci Code, the novel by Dan Brown about cracking a code left in Leonardo Da Vinci's work that may reveal a dangerous secret.

I've read a few books so far this summer that I've enjoyed. First I read The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, about a woman's slow emotional break-down. I then read The Devil Wears Prada, because I wanted to read it before the movie came out. Then I had to read Brave New World for (*gulp*) The Prison. At first I didn't enjoy it, because it seemed sort of void of emotion, but then I ended up really enjoying it because of the message it sent. Sci-fi always sends a political or social message.

I am currently reading In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, also for (*gulp*) The Prison. I'm almost done with it, and I really like it. I'm a fan of Truman Capote's. Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of my favorite movies, as already mentioned, and I've read the novel, which is also fantastic. I've seen Capote, which I thought was a fantastic film. Phillip Seymour Hoffman really deserved that Oscar.

Anyway, maybe you'll think about reading some of these. Maybe you already have. But overall don't forget books (They're your children, as mentioned earlier.)

I Love Jill

So, for Halloween, my favorite holiday, a few years back, when I still had braces, I dressed as a fifties housewive, Lucy-esque, since I am a redhead, although, as on the show, you can't tell. I decided to use a photograph of me holding Jello for my profile pic, until I can get a decent recent (poet!) picture, preferably one with my specs, or possibly a fabulous pair of green shades. I chose the photo because it's in black and white, so it's artsy, and it's a fun, unique pic. I mean, you don't usually see a teenage girl in an apron and pearls holding up a box of Jello. But now you have. Aren't you lucky?

You can see more of me only slightly embarrassing myself here.

Burma!

So, let's discuss my latest obsession: Monty Python. As I said before, once I saw Holy Grail, I was completely hooked. Then I began to watch Flying Circus, which I now never miss.

The reason I decided to watch Holy Grail is that I felt left out of an evidently incredibly funny thing. I heard people quoting it and referring to it constantly, even my peers. Now, it's very surprising that I would know less about Monty Python than many of my peers, excluding my close pals, for the following reasons:

• As previously mentioned, I have any affinity for practically all things British, and think more highly of them than just as people with "funny accents."
• I tend to be more educated in the field of Things that Occurred and/or were Popular Before the Year 1985.
• I seem to be more likely to appreciate the type of humor for which Monty Python is (in)famous. In short, it's not exactly Big Momma's House 2.

So, I felt like it was my duty to protect my "reputation" and rent Monty Python and the Holy Grail. My first viewing of the film was spent mostly with a blank expression and an open mouth. I forced myself to laugh a few times when it seemed appropriate, simply because I felt that if I didn't, I would somehow, through ESP (or, as some call it, ESPN), be harassed by my peers the next day for being Python-clueless. However, by the time it was over and I'd had time to reflect on what I had just seen, I laughed out loud, because I realized that I was overthinking it. It wasn't supposed to be confusing. It didn't have hidden messages that I was having trouble decoding. It was just ridiculous fun. So then I watched it once more, with a new attitude, and laughed until I fell off my invisible horse.

For those of you who are deprived and don't understand what I'm talking about, watch anything Monty Python, and you'll understand why I'm devoting a long, wordy post to this incredibly funny comedy team (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin, in alphabetical order).

Monty Python is the reason I:

• Cry "Burma!" when I panic.
• Always check the television set for penguins.
• Cherish spam (the food) like my own child.
• Know my favorite color (green) like the back of my hand, in case I ever run into an old, riddling bridge-keeper.
• Never travel with minstrels.
• Use my Latin grammar correctly.
• Am aware that a lion does not eat ants.
• Check for a pulse if I purchase a parrot.

I embellished on a few of those, but you know what I mean, right? "Wink, wink. Nudge, Nudge. Say no more, say no more."

Who Knew a Pool could be the Subject of a Thriller?

I saw Lady in the Water, and I have to say I didn't enjoy it as much as M. Night Shyamalan's past flicks. The acting was fine, and Bryce Dallas Howard was incredibly likeable as Story, the "lady in the water." And would you give Paul Giamatti an Oscar already? But there were too many aspects to the story, and it made it very complicated. It wasn't as simple as the Sixth Sense, which I still think is Shyamalan's best film.

And now are people going to be afraid to go in the pool or even into their backyard? Jaws made people afraid to swim in the ocean (although after I saw it, it was hard for me to put my toe in the pool), so now pools may be doing worse business.

The ending was supposed to be surprising, but it wasn't a huge shocker. I guess I was just trying to figure the stuff out too much. I should have just watched it without thinking too much. Although that is very hard for me.

On a RAMPAGE with Rene

There are so many things I want to write about, so I'll put two subjects in one post.

First of all, the RAMPAGE at my mall was having a closing sale today. I love the things in that store, because they are really classy, but it's pretty expensive. I also love the store's website, because all you have to do is put the cursor over an item and it shows you a larger picture and a description. Today the sales were too good to be true. I got a fierce pair of gray tapered pants with a zipper at the bottom in case you don't want them that skinny. It's great for boots because you can wear them over the pants when the zipper is closed, and you can wear them under the pants if the zipper is open, especially if you want to show off any embellishment on a cute ankle boot. I also got an extremely elegant black pencil skirt with buttons coming up either side of the front panel. It's very chic, and it would look beautiful with my black wedges (which I was wearing at the time, since I'm obsessed with them). Oh, and I have a story about my wedges to tell in a minute. Anyway, I also got a cute gray cabbie hat with very military-like embellishment on the front. I was looking at a cute velvet black clutch with gold metallic on the side and gold studs on the flap. I decided against it, although I regret it now, since I love clutches and it was bigger than most, which is good for me, because I carry a lot of junk, like paperback novels and enough movie tickets to fill a football stadium. Maybe I'll buy it some other time soon, before they close.

As I said before, I was wearing my black wedges, and when I walked into Payless (If there's one closeby, I must pop in to check out the latest styles and to see if my latest coveted shoe is marked down.), the girl at the counter said, "I like your shoes." It was a joke, because she knew they were Payless shoes. Almost all my shoes come from Payless, because they always have great styles in my size. I looked at the shoes in RAMPAGE, and I practically looked through every pair and there were none in my size!

The other subject I wanted to talk about is Rene Gruau, an artist who did fashion ads, as well as posters for plays and things. I have a calendar with some of his work, and I absolutely love it. When the year ends I want to frame some of the pictures because they are so beautiful. I love his work because it's very colorful and fun. you just smile when you see it. It's happy and full of clean, stylish lines and bright colors and patterns. His website has many of his drawings, although the words are in French. But it doesn't matter becuause his work is so beautiful and interesting to look at. I'm going to buy that calendar every year, because I think it changes each year. The more the better. It would be great to have a wall full of his drawings. Think of all the color!

Oh, and note the expressions on the women at the left. Raised eybrows? Check. Pouty Lips? Check. It's so chic.

Mrs. Ben and Jerry

I was recently informed from Miss America in a commercial that July is ice cream month, so I thought I'd write about ice cream before July is over.

I used to think ice cream was kind of boring. I'd eat it, but I never really craved it like I craved other foods. That was until I met Ben and Jerry. They changed my view on ice cream forever. In Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Bridget says something like, "Am having an affair with two men. One is named Ben, and the other is named Jerry." And I couldn't agree more. Of course, I'd want to marry them. I can be Mrs. Ben and Jerry. You can probably tell that I love this ice cream. And that's because I really do. The flavors are unique and delicious, like Mint Chocolate Cookie, Chubby Hubby, and Oatmeal Cookie Crunch. I wish they came in bigger cartons. Do they?

Anyway, enjoy some ice cream for July. And when you're shopping for ice cream, don't forget Ben and Jerry.

Rain & Raised Eyebrows

What is it about rain that is so peaceful? When you hear it from inside and sense the darkness through the blinds, it just puts you in a tranquil mood and makes you want to stay inside and work on your summer reading. Or watch a classic movie. Or play Go Fish. Or eat macaroni and cheese. What I always end up recalling about summer is the rain that comes down in the afternoon. Even though it can be inconvenient when you go outside, making you feel all sticky and flattening your hair, it's peaceful when you're inside. And who wants to go outside, anyway? I mean, it's hot all over the United States. It's torture to just step a foot out the door. So rain isn't too bad. I don't know why rain is so nice, because it's usually associated with sadness. And I suppose it is sad when it's been raining for weeks on end, but when it's just an afternoon it's good. I don't know why I'm talking about rain. I'm not even sure it is raining. It just feels like it is. I'm probably wrong.

I was looking at a couple of the photos on the blog of Marilyn and Audrey, and they both have raised eyebrows and pouty lips. I guess that kind of "I'm startled, but I want to kiss you" look was popular in the 50s and 60s. I should pose like that for my school picture. I'd look a lot cooler than some of the other kids who don't even bother to smile. They guffaw like walruses at lunch with their friends, but when it comes to smiling for an inanimate object (camera) and a person they'll never meet again in their lives (photographer), they refuse to crack a smile, like they don't want to ruin their "serious image." I think we should all pose like Audrey and Marilyn, even the boys. The yearbook could use a little glamour.

Knock on my door!

I've said before that I have crushes on animated characters, such as the Geico gecko. Well, I also have a crush on Mr. Opportunity, the cute cartoon character in the Honda commercials. He was gone for a while, but the other day he showed up again. And I was overjoyed! When he says, "I'm Mr. Opportunity. I'm back, and I'm knockin'," and then knocks on the TV screen, all I can do is say to the TV, "Please knock on my door!" Which is silly, because, well, he's not real. But that doesn't mean I can't have a crush on him!

Imperfect Vision is Fierce!

As you can see, I've become obsessed with the word "fierce." That's really only because I think it's silly when other people say it, and I have a peculiar habit of doing things that I think are silly when others do them, just because I'm not somebody who would do such a silly thing. I'm trying to be unpredictable.

Now that we have that all cleared up, let's talk about glasses, the overall (Speaking of overalls, are they in or out?) subject of this blog. I've noticed I really haven't talked much about eyeglasses. Spectacles, as I like to call them when I'm feeling especially witty. Notice I said feeling witty, not when I actually am witty, because usually when I think I'm witty, I'm the only one remotely amused. Anyway, back to the subjects of specs. Imperfect vision, near-sightedness, far-sightedness, near-and-far-sightedness.

I think the world views glasses too negatively, and it bothers me. Glasses can be very attractive. People usually associate intelligence with glasses (because a long time ago, when many people were illiterate, people who wore glasses read a lot), yet people moan about getting them, and then opt for contact lenses. Don't get me wrong. I think that it's great to show off a glasses-free face once in a while, and I have dealt with frustration over having to cover my new Maybelline New York volume-enhancing mascara with eye-sized window panes. But I don't think anyone should be ashamed of glasses. Spectacles can be a very fashionable accessory. People wear sunglasses, and everyone thinks,"Ooh, you're so cool, with your dark mysterious shades." But when someone walks by with glasses, they think, "What a nerd." The only difference is that the person with the sunglasses is either trying to look cool or protect their eyes, while the person with the plain spectacles is simply trying to make sure they don't mistake a coat rack for a human being or trip over an unseen step. And if the spectacles-sporting person has transitions, making they're glasses turn into shades in the blink of an eye, people look at you as if you're the coolest person on the face of the earth. But then you get back inside, and you're the geek again. During fire drills, people look at me as if I'm a magician who can magically change my glasses into shades. And yet they bug me about not choosing to get contacts. Hey, I don't have to dig in my purse when I walk outside to grab my shades. I don't even have to think about it. It just happens without me even noticing it.

My point is that people have been brainwashed into thinking that wearing glasses makes you a geek, and that if you wear them you will look ugly and you'll never get a date. Well, I say that as long as you get a cute, fashionable pair that suits your face, glasses don't have to make you unattractive. They can make you stand out. People will remember you as, "The one with the glasses." And what's wrong with that? It's better than not being remembered at all. And what is so horrible about being a geek? Geekdom is associated with intelligence, so why is that a bad thing? What I'm trying to say is that I understand that sometimes people want to wear contacts to show off their real face, but why banish the specs completely? They can be the hottest accessory you own, and they make you stand out. In a good way.

For quotes (good and bad) about glasses, go here. And for more on geek chic, go here.

Test

This is a photo of Marilyn Monroe in How to Marry a Millionaire, in which she plays a glasses-wearing girl.

Hail Hepburn (Both of Them)!

As I said before, I love classic movies. I once beat a grown man at a classic movie trivia game, not even letting him answer one question. Unfortunately, all I won was an oversized t-shirt for TCM. Although I was very proud of myself. Someone said when I volunteered to play, "She'll be at a disadvantage, since she's so young." And the host of the game said, "What's a classic movie to you? Forrest Gump?" Boy, did I prove them wrong!

Anyway, my two favorite classic movie actresses are Katharine Hepburn and Audrey Hepburn. And no, they were not related, in case you were wondering. Roman Holiday was the first classic movie I really loved (unless you include The Wizard of Oz, which everyone loves, except many people have no idea when it was made), and it starred the gorgeous Audrey Hepburn in her Oscar-winning role. And do you know that she accidentally left her Oscar in the bathroom? She found it, though. Can you imagine if someone stole Audrey Hepburn's Oscar? Then fifty years later they could sell it on ebay. Of course then they may be arrested. It's something to think about, though. Breakfast at Tiffany's is my favorte Audrey movie. She was nominated for that at the Oscars as well. Holly Golightly has kind of become her signature role. And Marilyn Monroe was almost in it, but I can't imagine anybody but Audrey saying things like, "Cross your heart and kiss your elbow."

I was introduced to Katharine Hepburn in Bringing up Baby, a film that began my love of screwball comedy. She was so funny and entertaining in that film, and I began to see more and more of her films. Her voice is so recognizable. I was reading Entertainment Weekly the other day, and a reviewer suggested that Parker Posey play Katharine Hepburn in a movie. Cate Blanchett already did an incredible job in The Aviator, but Posey does really look like Hepburn, and you can tell from her past roles that she can recreate the personality.

In conclusion, everybody should hail the Hepburns, as I do. Build a shrine or something. Or not.

That Phat Penny's Cameo

So, I bought a cameo brooch at an antique store yesterday, and I love it. There's a cameo trend coming up. I think it's because Victorian style clothing is becoming more popular, and cameo pins, necklaces, and cute, unique finds like the above cameo charm safety pin fit right in with the Victorian style. I love the idea of pairing antique-looking jewelry with modern clothes. Mixing time periods has never been cooler.

This cameo jewelry reminds me of currency. The penny is basically just a round cameo of Lincoln. So currency is hot right now. You hear that Paris Hilton? Something new for you to call "hot."

Unless she's outgrown the whole "That's hot" phrase. I don't necessarily keep up with the latest phrases. Is "phat" really popular right now, or is that just something the truly hip people tell the not-so hip people to say so they prove their not-so-hipness. And "hip" is another one. Does anyone other than the not-so-hip people say that? But I am convinced that "cool" will last forever. It transcends both time and place, and will never fade out. I am forever committed to "cool." I'll be saying "cool" when I am eighty years old. But I'm not particularly fond of "neat." I don't know why, but I don't like it. And "fierce" seems to be very big now when talking about fashion. As in "You look fierce in those jeans." Only I could go from writing (not talking) about cameo jewelry to how hot currency is to the latest pop culture terms.

Give me your Booty!

I saw the top boot a few weeks ago on the Payless website, and the lower boot in the actual Payless store yesterday. I tried the second boot on, and they were like wearing clouds. I didn't see the first boot in the store, but I love it, too. And they're the same price. There's just something about boots that is so fun. I can't explain it, but I love them. I only have two pairs (rain boots and Uggs), so I shouldn't really be writing about them as if I'm a boot connoisseur. But I do like those boots. And ankle boots are big now, too.

And my new haircut really just looks like my last one, only parted a different way, but it's always nice to get a trim, so all those split ends vanish. And like I said before, change, in any form, big or small, is good. Right?

Keeping up with the Brits

So, I enjoy watching Britcoms. Saturday night is my night for British comedy. PBS runs great shows. As I said before, I have an affinity for practically all things British. So I obviously like Britcoms. My favorite is Keeping up Appearances, about Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet!) and her adventures trying to, well, keep up appearances. She is annoyingly high class, as well as completely oblivious as to the fact that nobody can stand her, including her husband. She wipes off her plants with a hankerchief, and never listens to anything anybody says. So of course I adore her!

Another one I've started to watch is Are You Being Served? It's about the employees in a department store and it's very funny.

Finishing off my Saturday of British comedy is Monty Python. When I saw Monty Python and the Holy Grail, I became obsessed, and now every weekend I watch Monty Python's Flying Circus reruns. Maybe it doesn't make sense, but that's why it's so funny.

Change is Good & So is Hair

So, if you have been reading my blog, you may have noticed that I changed the template. If you haven't been reading my blog, you probably have no idea that I changed it. But I did. I just thought this template was cleaner, more modern and simple, which is what I like. And change is great. Especially when it comes to things like hair.


I'm going to get a haircut like Sienna Miller's a few months ago. Her hair is longer now, but before it was short and chic. My last haircut was inspired by Keira Knightley in Domino, but now I'm in the mood for something similar, but a little different. Change in any form, big or small, is good. I was thinking about letting it grow out a little to look like Sarah Jessica Parker's short hair, and then maybe get a perm, which I did before, but it didn't hold. But now I just want really short hair because it feels so good. It truly is liberating. Hair is an amazing thing, because you can change it in so many ways, but then change back if you feel like it. It's the same with blogs. Which is why I changed my template and am now changing my hair. Don't you want to just cut off your hair after this post? Maybe not.

You can see years of my haircuts (good or bad) here. Wait! Do I want you to see them! Maybe I shouldn't allow you to! Nah! I will.

My Shoes

I HAVE THE SHOES! They were on sale for $19.99, and I got them in black. I love them so much that I have been purposely adding black to all my outfits just to wear them! And to top everything off, I was flipping through a magazine while wearing the shoes, and saw the shoes in the magazine as the readers' favorite wedge! I hope that doesn't mean everybody will be wearing them when I return to the Prison. They make me taller, since they have a 3 1/2 inch heel, and they do hurt a little. I had to get them in a 9 1/2, because I was slipping out of the 10, but now I think they are a lot tighter in the front, so my toes are squished. But I'm not slipping out of them! And they look fierce! I never thought I would use that word, but it seemed very appropriate for this occasion. They're certainly not as painful as flip-flops. The thong kind, I mean. I always blush when I say that word. Thong, I mean. I blushed again. Everyone wears those shoes at the Prison, and they make the most horrible noise imaginable. Have you ever heard a hundred pairs of flip-flops change classes at once? It isn't exactly music to your ears. In The Devil Wears Prada, Andrea calls the girls who wear noisy high heels "Clackers." I call noisy flip-flops "Annoying." I'd much rather hear a pair of high heels. I wear heels and my friends make fun of the sound. Do they not hear their sound? I personally cannot wait for flip-flops to go out of style. For my ears' sake.

What's Cooking?

I watch cooking shows purely to admire the food and salivate like a dog in the presence of a juicy bone. I will never actually make anything on the shows, since I can't cook to save my life, but it's fun to look. The lighting on those shows is magical. It makes the food look so unbelievably delicious that I could just lean forward and bang my head on the television screen trying to get a taste.

I especially like Ina Garten, who hosts The Barefoot Contessa. First of all, you have to love the show's name, and second of all, Ina is so likeable! She has that kind of low blood pressure Martha Stewart kind of quality that just mesmerizes you and makes you want to grow flowers and sew a quilt with your friends. I really doubt any of my friends would sew a quilt, and I would forget I was growing the flowers after five minutes, but it's nice to imagine it. I always think at the beginning of the show when it displays her name that it says "In a garten," and each time for a split second I scold the show's makers for misspelling "garden." Then I realize that it's only Ina's name, and I forgive them and watch the show. She should teach little kids cooking, and instead of it being called kindergarten, it would be called inagarten.

I loved the episode where she had one of her friends over and she set up the guest room with all this crazy stuff like fresh tulips, an array of fragrances, and extra toothpaste and a toothbrush. All I was thinking was how much I wanted to stay at her house. Then she and her friend kept missing each other in the house. Ina got up when her friend was asleep and left her breakfast, then went out to the market. When she was out, her friend got up and started cooking in her kitchen! Then the friend left a note saying she was going out to the market, and when Ina got back she was gone, and Ina snuck a taste of the food. Then finally they were together. And the cutest part was when they met each other in the kitchen for a midnight snack!

So the point of this whole story is that even if the only time you pretend to have your own cooking show is when you're heating up leftover Chinese in the microwave, you can dream of your own delicacies while watching the Food Network. And then you can go to Olive Garden.

Bow to Bridget!

I absolutely adore Bridget Jones! I saw the first movie (Bridget Jones's Diary) for the first time about a month ago, and I just recently saw the second (Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason) movie, which I think I may have liked better than the first.

I have an affinity for all things British (Well, maybe not all things. British criminals, for example, are not really admired by moi.), so obviously I adore the adorable Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger). And I can relate to her in many ways. Of course, I don't have the dilemma of choosing between Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, but we do both keep journals, and we both like Ben and Jerry's ice cream, as seen in the photo at the right. We're also both clumsy and sometimes we say the wrong things. I tend to be focusing on negative things. Not that journals and ice cream are negative. Especially not ice cream.

"Nothing to Talk About"

There is somehow nothing to write about. I'm sure I'll prove myself wrong in a paragraph or two.

And here I go. I've been reading a lot of magazines and catalogues lately, and I've been thinking about fall clothes. Remember that for me fall and winter are my most fabulous seasons. So I've made a list of 10 must have items for fall and winter. They are in no particular order.

1. Boots (Urban Outfitters)
2. Tweed Coat
3. Blazer (Banana Republic)
4. Newsboy Cap
5. Skinny Jeans (Urban Outfitters)
6. Scarves
7. Turtleneck Sweaters
8. Wedges (Urban Outfitters)
9. Dressy Trousers (Banana Republic)
10. Shirtdress

Mod is the New... Boho?

Mod is in! In all of my newest magazines, black and white stripes and skinny black pants and boots cover the pages. I caught sight of these boots in my Delia's catalogue. They're called the Sedgwick boots, and they had one or two other articles of clothing called the Edie. Plus, there were entire pages devoted to the mod look.

Anyway, I'm excited, because I love the mod look. I certainly hope it replaces the Flashdance look that seems to be creeping up all over the place. I hate the eighties, although I do own about 5 pairs of leggings and a couple of tunics, and I was one of the first people to seek skinny jeans (I could only find one pair, and now, a few months later, all anybody wants is skinny jeans. I'm ahead on all the trends. Not to brag.).


Sienna Miller is playing Edie Sedgwick in the flick Factory Girl, so that'll probably bring the mod look back even more.

Savvy?

I cannot wait until Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest comes out tomorrow! It's going to be so great. There are midnight screenings tonight, but sadly I cannot go. Sadness drips from my every pore and overwhelms me. Oh well. What's 12 or 13 hours gonna do? Ok, that's way too long to wait! The first film was so good! Johnny Depp was amazing, as always, and he totally deserved his Oscar nod. I wonder if he'll get another for this flick. I heard from E! news or TV Guide or somewhere that it's the first time he's played the same character in two films.

Gilmore Goodness

Gilmore Girls is one of my absolute favorite shows, maybe even my favorite. I discovered it on ABC Family repeats and fell in love with it. I think I've seen every episode. But, sadly, it seems that next season, its seventh, will be its last. And there will be a new writing team. Apparently, Amy Sherman-Palladino, the show's creator, knows what she wants as the final lines of the show and, according to this site, wrote the final scene of the series, which is of course between Lorelai and Rory. But nobody knows if the new writing team will use it. I hope they do. It'll be so sad when the show is over, but there seem to be some good things in store for the next season. Apparently, Kirk will appear, despite rumors that he wouldn't, which is great since he's a great character. And (a great surprise for me!) apparently Marty may return! I loved that character, and I still believe he and Rory belong together. I'm very happy he could be back. Anyway, I thought I'd post about the show because it was on my mind.

The Devil Reigns!

Due to the weekend success of The Devil Wears Prada, the novel by Lauren Weisberger has knocked The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown, out of the number one bestseller spot for paperbacks, according to E! news (I thought I'd add that because you never know if you can trust that show)! I love both books, so I'm happy for the success of both. People just have to see what the gossipy inspiration was for the gossipy film. And yes, I did see it, and it was very good. Meryl Streep was fabulous, as always. She can do no wrong. And Emily Blunt, playing a character with the same name (Emily, not Blunt) was great as well. I hope to see a lot more from her. And do you know what I realized after I saw the movie? In both The Princess Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada, the very talented and beautiful Anne Hathaway's best friend is named Lilly. Funny, huh? Well, I thought it was. I've read most of the Princess Diaries books as well. They're very funny, and the movie is good, too.

"Super" Questions

So, I saw Superman Returns today, and there are a few things about which I would like to complain. Now, I know that I should be past this by now, but why does no one recognize Clark Kent as Superman? Just because he wears a pair of glasses as Clark doesn't disguise him. If I went to school one day without my glasses on, would people not recognize me? Maybe I can be a superheroine in my spare time and no one will know it's me. I mean, even Lois Lane doesn't recognize him. She'll fall in love with Superman but won't look twice at Clark? And does no one notice that whenever Superman is around, Clark is nowhere to be found? And that when there's trouble, Clark suddenly disappears and then suddenly Superman is at the scene of the catastrophe to save the day? I guess you have to forget about that and just enjoy the story. I mean, the rest of the story isn't exactly plausible, either. I mean, when have you seen a man who can fly and hold up enormous objects with his bare hands? It would be cool, yes. But it's not exactly believable. And neither is the fact that people don't recognize Clark as Superman. So I guess I'm only splitting hairs. Although it does bother me. I can accept that Spiderman and Batman aren't recognized, because they wear masks. But Superman is right next to people, showing his face. I think if Superman were real, and I saw Clark Kent, I'd recognize him in an instant. Unless he's controlling people's brains so they won't recognize him....