Ja, já, kyllä!

Here's an exciting thing I heard about a while ago: the Austin Nordic Film Fest this weekend.

Included in the agenda are short films and full-length features, such as: 

- The Icelandic short Gódir gestir (translation: Family Reunion) 

- Flammen & Citronen, a Danish film noir-type drama that I have been very eager to see for some time now

- Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick (Translation: Everlasting Moments), another one on my 'To watch' list.

//via the larsen film review//

Some friends of mine are hosting a garden party tomorrow, but I'm hoping to make it out for at least one of the block showings. Or maybe just the after party? Either way, it makes me happy that Austin hosts events such as this.

Beautiful settings for beautiful days

//via cabbages & roses//

Beautiful days inspire beautiful thoughts. It's the wonderful Friday after a harrowing Thursday on which I had two tests and very little sleep. I'm content and excited for the weekend, particularly since the weather in Austin looks promising. Maybe enough so to have a sweet picnic like the one in the photo above?

In the spirit of sharing all things beautiful, I present the whimsical, lovely English brand Cabbages & Roses. All of their products, housewares and clothing, are made in England. They seem to be a smaller, more English Anthropologie with more classic details. I fell so madly in love with their look book photos that as you can see, I had a hard time choosing just a few to post on here. So don't mind the extra eye candy!

 I would love to nap on that garden bed, or have a meal at that majestic table, or lounge around in one of those adorable chairs. I've seen a lot of B&Bs in Europe with such furnishings, so maybe it's not too far off.

(Thanks to Crimzonite for the tip! Check out her awesome blog here.)

My heart won't let my feet do things that they should do

I simultaneously love and hate my latest obsession with mid-size black boots:

-Love it because they look consistently amazing and add an edge to any ensemble; dress,oversized T-shirts, skinny jeans & tunics, these shoes have it all covered.

-Hate it because time time last year, I lusted for a pair of neon high top sneakers, and by the time I finally got them (and a decent amount of $$ later) I decided that I was over it. Being that I am a dresses & skirts kinda gal, I found them to be a hard footwear choice to sustain.

But these industrial-style boots have been embraced with gusto for a couple of seasons now, which puts to rest misgivings I have about whether or not I'll actually end up wearing them much.

Check out a great pair by Mulberry, below.

//via Lovemagazine//

//via altamiranyc//

I think my favorite donner of these boots is the ever-stylish Kaya Scodelario, who can be seen sporting them all over London, including on the tele while playing Effy Stonem. The dichotomy of her tiny frame and the klunky boots is just killer.

//via weheartit//


I think they'll also be a practical & ace footwear choice for the fast-approaching SXSW here in Austin. Holler!

PS- This pic of Kaya is reminding me that I should also invest in more eyeliner/dark eye shadow for spring/summer. And go back to blonde. Serious things to ponder, these are.

Listened to the Songbird Yesterday

via Born Today

 

 

I concede that Christy Turlington is about as British as Kraft Velveeta, but I just fell in love with this old photo of her. Doesn't she look like she should be out frolicking about in Somerset, with some pretty lads and puppies trailing right behind her?

Anyway, this photo made me think of this lovely old folksy Oasis tune (yep, you read that right):

Today the way I play the game is not the same

Let's call this Throwback Thursday. Why not?

So I was going crazy studying for two tests yesterday, and between all the diagrams, definitions & acronyms, couldn't even care to pick music from my sprawling iTunes library. Instead I opted for random, leaving to fate (or an elaborate Apple algorithm) the soundtrack to my studying woes.

Much to my surprise, a song that I had not heard in a good long while started to play: Freedom '90 by George Michael! Hidden within the depths of my "Random Retro" album on iTunes, this tune rocked my world when I first discovered it back in 1995. The models! The angst! The obvious absence of the artist himself! The models! I ate it all up.

I was only acutely aware of the cultural significance of this video with its chock full of super models of the 90s crammed into one space. Of course, the more I watched the video (back then, rewatching meant tedious rewinding of a VHS tape that I managed to copy the video onto...thank God for YouTube!) the more I realized that it was (and still is) an incredibly iconic vid. Even now, can't watch it only once.

Vid here, if you are into that sweet sassy 90s style.

(Well...in spite of all this, this is still my favorite George Michael. Sorry WHAM.

)

Scenes from the Neighborhood

//Photos courtesy of my dear friend R. Raoof//

It's been a long day of classes, so I haven't had the chance to think much about a Euro-spirations today. Instead, I thought I would share some photos of my neighborhood, Hyde Park. Here in Austin, TX, we enjoyed a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon, with high-70s weather dominating the day.

Come Tuesday, we have snow. Spotty sheets of lovely snow. It's unusual for our city, yes. But it is indeed a wondrous sight to behold.

Off to the gym and then the store to grab ingredients for a meal with some great folks!

My, you carry a lot of style

Hey, it's Monday. Let's talk about how two prolific French designers were recently commissioned to design collections for common folk retailers, much to the delight of middle-classers like myself. Time for some spring shopping! Yeah?

Last year, Jean-Paul Gaultier announced that he would be designing a budget line for Target in 2010. The new line will be available March 7th in most Targets across the U.S. Sneak preview can be seen at the Target Website.

 

//images via www.nitrolicious.com//

I was hoping Gaultier would have more items simiar to or inspired by the iconic designs he outfitted Madonna in over the years, but that didn't seem to be much of his inspiration. Still, I'm seriously in love with all of the dresses in this line, particularly yellow vintage-looking one and the black/green sheath. But what's with all the weird tattoo leggings? They sort of make me think of Ed Hardy, whyyyyy Jean-Paul G, whyyyy?

Equally exciting is Sonia Rykiel's  line for H&M this season. Her first line, which was all lingerie, launched last December. Her knitwear line launched this past Saturday, and it's actually available in the U.S. Check out the full collection here.

 

 

//images via h&m.com//

 

 

I am just enamored by the romantic, colorful and playful details of the line. Also adorable? The way that the models are channeling the big poufy red hair that is the signature 'do of the designer herself. Lovesit!

 

Power of the Muse

Pics from Tom Ford's latest eyewear campaign hit the internets recently, and I must express my jubilation about the fact that Ford chose to continue his professional relationship with the undeniably fetching Nicholas Hoult.

I'll admit I was a bit skeptical at first, because you can indeed have too much of a good thing. But the Anglo/American duo were resilient in their dedication to perfecting the 1950s/60s vibe, much like they did in the beautiful, melancholy film "A Single Man." (Digression alert: If you haven't seen it yet, I really highly strongly & absolutely recommend it. Go see it, seriously!)

Prior to the official release of "A Single Man," Ford outfitted Hoult in some of his pieces and personally photographed him in a design spread for the October 2009 Out Magazine cover story.

//Pics 1-4 courtesy of The Fashionisto//Last 2 pics courtesy of Out Mag//


It's become a rather interesting muse/artist relationship, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it will shape up in the coming years. In the meantime, I shall have to create a massive budget plan so I can get me a pair of fierce shades like the ones in the first pic.

 Anyway, I just flew into Chicago earlier this evening; off to explore a bit!

The Dreams In Which You Live

I've carried a sanctuary in my head & heart for years.

I dream of a time, probably many years from now, when I will be older and ostensibly emancipated from the worries of youth; I dream of life in a little hutta (the name given to Scandinavian country homes), surrounded by quaint ponds and all the floras and faunas the region has to offer. I would sit around all day with the closest of friends and family - laughing, listening to records, and baking delicacies. We wouldn't worry about getting fat, being cool, meeting expectations, or being on time.

The country is so beguiling, so unassuming, and so nourishing to the mind. I'd get me a rustic place in the Scandinavian (or Irish or French or German...really, any of these places would work) countryside. Then, I would fill it with cutesy trinkets and flourishes like the ones below.

Each time I have visited Europe, I have experienced a little taste of what this life would be like. It only increases my desire to spend my days, until the very end, in such a haven. All I need are time and money on my side.

Sometimes, I secretly wish I could relinquish the next 10-15 years of my life and fast forward through time if that meant I could get there.

//The first seven photos came from the amazingly talented Olaf S; check out his Flickr here.

The remaining photos are from the equally lovely Dos Family blog.//