"Everyone wants to be young and skinny.  This is awful.  Curves are marvelous.  Wrinkles are hypnotizing.  Why not just be happy with who you are?"
- Alber Elbaz

Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin 

"I think acting is about forgetting yourself in order to give the best of yourself. It's passing through you more than you're creating it. You're not the flower, but the vase which holds the flower." 
- Juliette Binoche

Christian Kettiger

I think this insightful quote applies just as accurately to life as to acting...  My friend B and I had this conversation once about how we screw things up when we care about them too much.  It's cringe-worthy and funny, 'cuz it's true.  I think there's definite credence to the notion that self-consciousness infects the purity of the creative process, or even the natural fluidity of relationships.  I myself am certainly most poised, most zen, when my focus is entirely on an activity or another person.  When self awareness creeps in, part of your attention naturally splits off, and then your focus/poise/creativity (whatever you want to call it) fragments, and your ability be a vessel for greatness is radically diminished. 

I've mentioned photographer Christian Kettiger's great work before here.

I'm smitten: Victoria Beckham A/W 12

Even though the Spring shows are currently happening, I can't get my head to stay there.  When the leaves are changing, and the air is bracing, I want to think about layering up - the boots, the hats, the wooly socks...

I have to admit, I never expected that I'd fancy Victoria Beckham's designs...  Victoria herself often looks a bit too severe for my personal taste.  But I want to wear literally every single piece in her Autumn/Winter 2012 RTW collection!  Which is not something I'd say lightly...

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

It's just a brilliant little capsule collection of dresses and coats, with beautiful finishes and accessories.

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

From the dresses, to the coats, to the clean, rich-looking leather accessories, it's all timeless and really wearable.  

Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW

Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW

Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

The tailoring is razor-sharp, and every detail about the cut-outs and colour-blocking is designed to flatter.  

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW

The well-considered embellishments - exposed zippers, brass buttons, flap pockets, and epaulets are military inspired, but not in a costumey way.  Just enough to provide the perfect masculine/feminine tension.  Everything's streamlined and chic.  

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW

Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW

And I adore the slouchy layered socks with the boots, which is something I already do anyway.

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

I am one smitten kitten.  If she keeps this up, she'll be joining the Michael Kors and Christopher Bailey (masters of classic, wearable luxe) club.

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

This is why Fall fashion is my favorite...

Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Disorderly Conduct

I'm fascinated by this compelling collection of vintage bad girl mug shots posted by Katie Notopoulos on www.buzzfeed.com.  The retro fashion and styling! (2, 3, 8)  The bouffants & beehives! (4, 7, 11, 15, 16, 21)  The eyebrows! (1, 4, 16, 17)  It's cool to see that some of these 'Forties' hairstyles (18, 23) are currently enjoying a total popularity resurgence...  

Some of these ladies look disheveled, and some look distinguished.  And the expressions on their faces!  Amused, bored, scared, and a few look genuinely badass.  So interesting to speculate on what they might've done to get hauled down to the station...  Did they shoplift a pair of pantyhose, drive drunk, participate in a violent gang or a peaceful public protest?  What impact did this arrest have on their lives?  And what was it like to live back in the days when the police blotter described you as "well built"? 

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Source: flickr.com

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Source: leastwanted

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23. The baddest of the bad -- she was arrested 3 separate times:

Source: leastwanted