Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Summer Dreaming
We're nearing the end of my second winter in Boise, and I (like most people) can't wait for warmer weather, outdoor activities, and generally more color. Sometimes, when everything around me seems dead, I like to buy colorful clothes or listen to lively music. I would buy this if I wasn't dirt poor, but in the end, this video will have to do.
I've been a fan of this band, Orange Pekoe, since high school, though at the time I only knew one of their songs. Basically, I'm a fan of any Japanese band that does something other than Top 40 pop and rock, and OP's retro jazz, bossa nova and waltzes fit right in. I picked Honeysuckle not only for the joyful, upbeat sound of the music, but also the riot of color and sensation in the video. Even in the freezing cold, I can put on this video and almost feel the sunshine, grass and pool water. It would only be better if I had a best friend I could go swimming with in adorable suits and swim caps! Sounds like a great project to work on until May.
Still dreaming,
K
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Gooseberry Lay
I know everyone's still going crazy over revived 50s and 60s kitsch a la Mad Men, but allow me to direct your attention to another couple of decades that were just as exciting: the 20s and 30s. This time period has fascinated me since high school, and I love sharing it with people.
We've been consciously or unconsciously thinking about them for the past three years (we are in the worst financial crisis since the actual Great Depression, as if you forgot), but other facets of life in the days of flappers, jazz and social perversion are subtly making themselves aware too. For instance, the new HBO original series Boardwalk Empire.
Not only do gangsters never go out of style - just how many people are influenced by Scarface? - but the idea of speakeasies and leading double lives fascinates just about everyone. On the outside you may be a stand-up member of society, a real square, but who knows what you might do after you've tipped a few! The whole idea of going to underground clubs and participating in the counterculture, whether by drinking, dancing or listening to the jive, is still around. Have you been to a secret show lately? For that matter, everyone should learn how to do the Charleston and the Lindy Hop. Not only is it handy to know how to dance, these are the original American dances.
Being fashion conscious, there are definitely styles from the 20s and 30s that I emulate, and I'm not alone. Drop-waist dresses with shorter skirts, cloche hats, pixie cuts and smoky eyes are all still immensely popular, if updated. Why not try a finger wave next time you have a free day to play with your hair? Here are some more shots from Boardwalk Empire to give you some fashion inspiration:
I originally saw these photos on the Classic Bride blog, original post here.
If you're into webcomics, there's a fabulous one called Lackadaisy set in the 20s that chronicles the adventures of a bunch of people associated with an ailing speakeasy in St. Louis. I'll warn you, the characters are all anthropomorphic cats, but if you can get past that, the art, story and writing are really fabulous.
To finish up, here's an adorable song from one of my favorite bands, the Ditty Bops. This has the cute Charleston/Balboa rhythm and cheek factor of the era, from a modern band.
Keep on truckin' (a cool Charleston move you should look up),
K
Friday, July 2, 2010
Rollin' on the River
It's summertime in Boise, ID, and everyone here has one thing on their minds: floating the river. My fiancee's dad (who works for the City of Boise) got paid to go float the river with a group of kids, and some friends have invited me to go rafting/floating with them sometime.
The only problem is, I do not currently own a swimsuit.
I have had terrible luck with swimsuits. I never have been a fan of the little triangle string bikinis that you find everywhere. My ideal swimsuit is something like the one supermodel Liu Wen wears in this short film:
Usually I'm a big fan of colors and prints - life is for living, you know, so why wear just one color? - but there is something to be said for a classy black swimsuit, especially one as tasteful and modern as this one. It should work for more than just getting in a pool, you could almost walk down the street with something like that on. Also, it's a great example of good cutouts in a swimsuit.
Unfortunately, I have yet to find such a provocative yet classy suit. The closest I came were this and this. I shall keep looking.
Love to you all, and a happy early 4th to my American friends!
K
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