Must Love Vivienne

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Love it or Leave It?

I've seen this outfit completely panned on other blogs, but I kind of love it.

Not many people could pull this off without looking like death, but overall, Lily Allen looks sharp and very gothic femme fatale meets Brigadoon.

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Happy Hallmark's Day to all my lovely readers. If you're bored, take a Valentine's-related quiz here.

Thought of the Day

Iconic fashion photographer David Bailey (who has worked with Penelope Tree, Jean Shrimpton, Jane Birkin, Mick Jagger, The Beatles, Catherine Deneuve and Marianne Faithfull, to name a few) was asked by Guardian Unlimited what he thought of the UK's new curriculum which introduces children to five hours of culture per week (art, music, etc.).

Bailey answered:

I learned nothing at school. I didn't really go until I was eight, and I left on my 16th birthday. The only person I liked was an art teacher - a woman, of course - and she told me you couldn't put a line around things. I was amazed because that was all Walt Disney ever did. My real education came from reading and going to Hollywood movies with my mum - it was cheaper than putting another shilling in the meter.

They never told me Van Gogh cut off his ear because he couldn't get it up; they never told me Caravaggio was the character he was. If they had, it might have been different - it was all too academic. I didn't discover Picasso till I was 17. I didn't know art galleries existed. But I don't like the idea of compulsory culture.

See some of his best work here.

A Missive for Perez Hilton

People who read this blog know that I've loved Agyness Deyn since I first posted on her on August 14, 2006. At the time, I wrote this about her: "...when you Google this girl there are only nine results. It won't be that way for long. This twenty year-old British model is destined to be the next big thing." For the following months, my blog was the first Google hit for Agyness Deyn.

On August 27, 2006 I wrote this: "I have taken it upon myself to promote the hell out of Agyness Deyn. I first posted on her a few weeks ago when there were only eight Google results for her name. Now there are thirty-three."

Well, that was one and a half years ago. Now there are almost 200,000 hits for Agyness on Google, because as all of us who love and keep up with fashion know, Agyness was definitely The Model of 2007, and maybe even 2006, depending on whom you're asking.

Which is why I find it very amusing that Perez Hilton, who often likes to claim having "discovered" people (like Robyn, who's been around for over a decade and who I danced to in eight grade), posted this today, speaking in the Royal "We", as is his wont: "Miz Deyn is gonna break out in 2008. Mark our words!"

Just to clarify, I do not claim to have discovered Agyness either. I'm pretty sure a scout did, and then her agents. But I will say that a certain blogger who likes to speak authoritatively about all kinds of things (like the supposed death of Castro), has really stepped outside his bounds on this one, and I'm calling FOUL.

I may only be speaking for myself, but I'm sure a few people will concur when I say: Let the fashion bloggers blog on fashion, "Miz"ter Hilton, and you can keep to your own vocation of drawing semen on people.

Much love,
Ailsa

Zellweger, as Novak (again)

In Down With Love, Renée Zellweger played Barbara Novak. Now she poses as Kim Novak in Vertigo for Vanity Fair's Hollywood Issue.

I just watched Vertigo last week and was reminded that it really is one of Hitchcock's most beautiful films. Here's Zellweger, and here's a classic clip from Vertigo.


Here's a montage accompanied by U2 (I'd mute it - the movie is better than the music). Keep your eyes open for Kim Novak's fabulous costumes.

J'Adore Jumeau

I'm always looking for animal-friendly, eco-friendly fashions that are interesting to look at. So often the ethical product lines are, well, bland.

I've been keeping my eye out for a new purse that is functional (I'm always lugging too much stuff - notebooks, a MacBook, textbooks), attractive (I'm underwhelmed by the gazillions of canvas totes I'm seeing), and vegan (if I can save an animal's hide, I will).

So imagine how pleased I was to be introduced to Jumeau. I've just added two new bags to my collection from Jumeau's Green Collection, made of organic cotton.

I got the Keri and Wisdom models - they're just the right size for a laptop, books... everything. - the color, Deep Sea Bloo, is a beautiful, lush marbled turquoise and navy with gold accents.