Nothing Elegant

You'll Come Visit Me, Won't You?

2010-04-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

Here goes {deep breathe...}: this will be my last post here at Nothing Elegant. I know this might seem as though it is coming out of nowhere, but it is something I have been thinking over for the past few weeks. I have loved this blog so much-- it has given me much more than I ever imagined. It has given me new friends, a keener eye, a place for creativity and expression, and a stronger voice. But, as my dissertation looms, I feel as though I need to focus my attention more strategically. This blog has allowed me to explore and open up about all of my varying and divergent interests, but now I feel the need for something a bit more specialized. That is why I am starting a new website: The Fin de Siecle, devoted to late Victorian art, literature, and culture. I have a feeling that most of my readers here at Nothing Elegant will like the new site (I hope!). And I truly hope you will stop by, check it out, and visit often. I also have a new Facebook page and Twitter page for the site -- come visit me there, too!

I want to thank all my readers and fellow bloggers who have encouraged me, inspired me, and made me feel like part of a vibrant, intelligent, creative community (you know who you are!). I truly hope you will follow me on my new venture....

::Check me out here now! Tell me what you think. (And I will still be checking the comments here from time-to-time, too!).

Cheers!
Tara

New Dress...New Blog?

2010-04-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

My dear, long-lost readers!! I'm certain by now you imagine I have been buried alive under a tumbling mountain of books. In fact, I just needed a bit of time off to think about life, writing, blogging, etc. I hope you won't be completely disappointed if I tell you that there are going to be some big changes...involving the start of a new blog and the end of this one. But, you must stay tuned until my next post for all of the details -- ha, the suspense!

Just to give you a hint: my next blog won't be as "personal" as this blog has been...and it won't be as fashion/shopping related as this one (ok, there will still be fashion...I can't completely give it up!) So, I kind of wanted to leave off on a personal (and fashion-related) note by posting this series of photos that my sweet boyfriend took of me at the park today...showing off the new summer dress I got from Eshakti.

It has been such a fun, wonderful ride my dears! I think my new favorite dress is sort of symbolic of a new start -- I truly hope you will continue on this journey with me.

::OK, over the two year span of this blog, I rarely did product reviews, but this is one I'm thrilled to publicly swoon over -- seriously, Eshakti is my new favorite place to shop!! If you haven't visited their site, you must check it out. The prices are reasonable, the dresses and skirts are so cute, and they make the clothes to order...which means they take your measurements and make the clothes to fit you! Genius. I also love the fact that their dresses are stylish and slightly vintage-inspired, without being overly trendy. And they have caftans for poolside lounging!! Glamorous, darlings.

Artist: Charlotte Mann

2010-04-01T11:05:00.001-07:00

I'd love to take up residence in a cheeky trompe l'oeil house decorated by artist Charlotte Mann. Mann specializes in life-size drawings, and her favorite place to draw is right where out mothers told us not to -- the walls! She creates charming living spaces complete with scenic window views, cheerful knick-knacks, framed pictures, floral curtains...even wallpaper. Living in one of her spaces would almost be as amazing as living in this video...almost.

::If you could have Mann design a space for you, what would you have her draw on your walls??

Penhaligon's: The Anthology Collection.

2010-03-30T17:26:00.000-07:00

What's the one thing yours-truly likes more than high-heeled shoes, vintage dresses, AND red lipstick? Yep, perfume! One of my first jobs was as a salesgirl at a perfume shop at the mall. We didn't exactly have a lot of business, so most of my time was spent sitting around spritzing perfume on every area of available skin, mixing scents, and trying to figure out fragrance lingo {head notes, heart notes...I still haven't got it all straight}. These days, I still find it very difficult to walk by a department store perfume counter or pass by Sephora without wanting to try/buy something new. What I wouldn't give to pay a visit to London's lovely Penhaligon's perfumery! Their new re-released line of scents from the Anthology Collection features six scents from 1927 to 1976. I love the idea of wearing something that evokes a bit of nostalgia for a particular period. I also really love the fact that three of scents are from the year I was born {I can't believe I'm giving away my age}: the 1976 Night Scented Stock and the Gardenia sound amazing. Must have been a lush year !

::What are your favorite scents?? Have you tried anything from Penhaligon's?

The Magic of the Black Mirror and Other Optical Devices

2010-03-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

{A Claude Glass, or Black Mirror}

My love for antique optical devices started with my discovery of the Stanhope, and it has snow-balled into a mini obsession. The Victorians certainly found clever ways to fulfill their need for visual stimulation with a plethora of odd optical toys and fascinating illusionary devices. The names of the devices alone are enough to make me giddy with intrigue. For example, doesn't the Black Mirror sound like something straight from Grimm's Fairy Tales? Despite its sinister-sounding nickname, the Black Mirror {also called a Claude Glass} was a small pocket-sized mirror used by landscape artists in the 1700's and 1800's. The slightly convex mirror had a dark surface, and when held up, it would abstract the scenery reflected in the surroundings. The image would have a soft, slightly painterly quality, which the painter could then use as inspiration for his work.

:The Camera Obscura {aside from being the name of one of my favorite bands} is an optical device that projects the image of its surroundings onto a screen using a hole. The earliest know account of a camera obscura being used was from 5th century BC. They became popular devices during the 19th century when they were installed at tourist destinations and seaside resorts -- a precursor to movie theaters!

:Like the Black Mirror, the Camera Lucida was used as a drawing aid by artists. It creates an optical superimposed image of the subject being viewed on the surface the artist draws upon. A bit like cheating, no?

:The Magic Lantern was a very popular form of entertainment in the Victorian period. Magic lantern shows were the combination of projected images, live narration, and live music. Some lanterns had up to three lenses, which allowed for the creation of various special effects. I'm certain I would be totally mesmerized by this even today!

:The Phantasmagoria was probably as terrifying as it sounds...particularly to unsuspecting old ladies! This was also called "Pepper's Ghost Effect" and it was often used in theater productions during the 1800's. Victorians were notoriously obsessed with death and the supernatural, so clever theater managers began using a modified magic lantern to incorporate images of ghosts and skeletons into their productions. The projectors were mobile, so the operator could create the illusion that the ghost was moving around the stage.

:The Zoopraxiscope was an invention by the photographic genius Eadward Muybridge. The zoopraxiscope projected images from rotating glass disks in rapid succession to give the impression of motion -- an early precursor to film!

::If you find these objects as fascinating as I do, you really must treat yourself to a visit to The Richard Balzer Collection to see an amazing collection of optical devices in action / And how about this fascinating tidbit: In 2001, artist David Hockney's book Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters argued that great artists of the past, such as Ingres, Van Eyck, and Caravaggio did not work freehand, but were guided by optical devices {via}. Shocking!

Book Crush: Persephone Press

2010-03-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

I have a new book crush {do you get book crushes?}. Persephone Press is a London-based press that specializes in neglected and relatively unknown female prose and fiction writers from the 19th and 20th centuries. Their selection of titles is like a treasure chest of forgotten literary jewels. And each book is like a little piece of art work unto itself. The jackets are all the same from the outside -- a lovely understated gray, with classic cream labels. But, the interior of each title features a design that evokes the time and place of the words inside: Victorian, Art Nouveau, modern, etc. I want to read every single book in their catalog, from beginning to end...you know, in all my spare time...*wink*

::Check out their lovely online shop here. They provide a brief biography for each of their fascinating authors, as well!

"What are we supposed to do now? Everything is still night!"

2010-03-22T18:58:00.000-07:00

Everyone seems to have a solution for fending off nightmares. When I posed the dilemma to a group of friends, I recieved so many varied responses -- some funny, some fascinating. Here are just a few I gathered:

Drink warm milk.
Or...cut dairy from your diet completely.
Take a sleep aid, like Ambien or Lunesta.
Put a dream-catcher by your bed.
Keep a dream journal, and write down the dream as soon as you wake.
Abolish guilt {perhaps nightmares are a product of guilt?}.
Play relaxing music or a funny movie in the background.
Keep a glass of half-full water on your nightstand -- an old wive's tale.
Learn to wake yourself while dreaming, or train yourself to lucid dream.
Be grateful that your dreams, rather than your life, are nightmarish!

I personaly like Nietzsche's bit of snarky wisdom on what to do when you wake up after a nightmare: "You ingrates! You should go to sleep again and dream better!"

::The images above are from the Coma pool on Flickr. Also check out Coma Magazine, to see more work from these amazing surrealist photographers...who seem to have a bit of experience with nightmares.

An Ode to Frida's Eyebrows

2010-03-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

{by Iris Schwarz}

One of Frida Kahlo's most striking features was -- without a doubt -- her full and fearless eyebrows. It always bothers me when I hear people say: "Oh, she would have been pretty if she had done something about those brows." What??? No way. Her eyebrows were a part of unique beauty, and honestly, I've been feeling a little jealous of her thick mane of of eye-hair lately. Alright, I would never have the confidence to pull off a full-on monobrow {nor does my hair even grow between my eyes}, but I could really use a little oomph in the eyebrow area these days. During my many years of plucking, waxing, and torturous string treatments, I never once stopped to consider the fact that one day thick brows would be back in fashion...and that all that hair pulling would eventually make them stop growing. I don't care about any of these new-fangled eyelash growth treatments, I want something that will make my eyebrows come back!

::Where do you stand on the eyebrow issue? Is anyone having this dilemma?? What I wouldn't give to have this America's Next Top Model contestant's brows! Oh well, Here is a bit of Frida to make you smile...

Blogger Manifesto Project: Manifesto #3

2010-03-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

My name is Ana. Tara has asked for my manifesto. There are so many ideas and things I'm obsessed with; so many declarations I could have made. But here is the one that made it - the one that is most important to me. A manifesto on time. Care to spend a few minutes of yours with it?

Time is perception. It flies, it grinds, in very long work meetings it feels like it has suspended itself completely, trapping you like a fly in amber.

Time is always measured. Seconds, hours, days, months, and years. It is a framework for our lives in which our language is even divided into past, present and future tenses. When you are stranded without a means of telling time, it makes you feel uncomfortable and uneasy. It can even amount to torture. The measurement of time anchors you to your life.

Time can obsess people. The anticipation of it, the keeping of it, the passing of it. Some plan their time out very carefully with calendars, alarm clocks, lists and five year plans. Others resolutely turn their backs on this and drift on by, declaring they have no mission and no ambition, that they are just content to see what comes. Both both approaches spring from the same source - the realisation that we do not have much time (therefore we need to plan it or as such we need to enjoy it while it lasts).

And isn't that the rub? That no matter what we think of time, no matter what we believe, we all know that time will only ever leave us behind.

And if we substitute the word "love" for "life", Yehuda Amichai still speaks true: Love is finished again, like a profitable citrus season or like an archeological dig that turned up from deep inside the earth turbulent things that wanted to be forgotten. Love is finished again. When a tall building is torn down and the debris cleared away, you stand there on the square empty lot, saying: What a small space that building stood on with all its many floors and people. (extract from Love is Finished Again by Yehuda Amichai )

Click on each picture for its source. For more, visit the Looking Into The Past Flickr Group and Elliot Malkin's Home Movie Reconstructions.

The List: 5 Things to Get This Slimy Jellyfish Off My Head

2010-03-12T06:49:00.000-08:00

{image by Zhou Fan}

Folks, I'm in a hardcore rut {otherwise known as a funk} right now. I think this dilemma is fairly normal for people who read and write for a living. Does this ever happen to you? I start feeling guilty for not reading or writing the "right" things {i.e. for my dissertation}, so I just stop doing anything -- I feel guilty for not doing what I'm supposed to do, so I just stop doing all the things I like. What a bad idea! It's a bit like having a big jellyfish sitting atop your head and sucking all of the motivation out. Slurp! I think I need to change up my routine and try some new things for inspiration. One cannot go around bound by a sea creature. Here are a few rut-fighting activities I'm going to try:

1. Costume movie night! After watching the Oscar's, I decided I needed to see every film nominated in the costume category. I am going to try and watch all of them over the next several weeks...and maybe write some reviews here? The nominees are: The Young Victoria, Coco avant Chanel, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Bright Star, Nine...and I'll add A Single Man for good measure.

2. Eat at a new restaurant. There is a new Indian restaurant {Kolam} here I've been meaning to try.

3. Go on a hike. If you know me, this might sound a little...out-of-character. But, seriously the weather is so lovely, and I'm just dying to wander through the woods. OK, so maybe it will be less of a hike and more of a stroll.

4. Go to free yoga. The Yoga Room here in Tulsa has free yoga every Monday. Ask me why haven't gone. I have no idea!

5. Write my F*cking dissertation prospectus! There, I said it. We all know this is the real reason I'm in a rut. My boyfriend compared my dilemma to the Clash's "Guns of Brixton" lyrics: "How you gonna come?/ With your hands on your head / Or on the trigger of your gun?" In other words: I need to decide if I'm going to come out fighting or just give up. The fighting option sounds much more exciting {and yes, my boyfriend makes strange, wonderful music analogies}.

Readers, please share, what do you do to get out of a rut??

Rochas 2010: In the Mood for Love

2010-03-11T17:00:00.000-08:00

The new collection by Rochas is so beautifully nostalgic, yet so quirky, that I can't quite wrap my mind around it. Here are the elements that I love about the collection:

Ladylike sheer blouses with vintage-inspired brassieres peeking through.
Floral belt accessories.
Adorable, summery boater hats.
Bright brocade.
Rich shades of mustard and spice.
Retro cat-eye shades!

Here are the elements that kind of have me freaked out {i.e. would look horrible on me}

Flat sandals with ankle socks...yikes.
Straight, shapeless dresses -- not great for curves.
Knit swimsuit/onesies?
Baggy, potato sack pants...again, bad for curves.

What do you think of the collection, dear readers?? Does it remind you a bit of the lovely Chinese film "In the Mood for Love"? The ensembles have a very 1960's Hong Kong vibe...

:See more Rochas 2010 images here.

::I might have to snap up these Rochas sunnies on Ebay!

A War to Remember?

2010-03-10T07:49:00.000-08:00

Until recently, I always found war re-enactors to be a bit...well, strange. They confounded my sense of living for the moment: why would you want to pretend to live through something horrible and traumatic from the past? After coming across artist Jim Naughten's moving portrait series of WWI and WWII re-enactors, I now feel I can relate a bit more sympathetically. These men and women step out of their daily lives to briefly become characters from a time long gone -- people who committed brave deeds and became a part of history in a tangible way. They give great attention to the details and nuances of costume and character. In a way, this is not so very different from what I do every day: it is the job of people who study and teach literature to keep the characters of the past alive. I guess I am more like a war re-enactor than I initially would have admitted!

And on the topic of fascinating characters {or real-life people with novel-worthy lives}, I was completely overwhelmed with pride and inspiration after watching the story of the WWII women fighter pilots {WASPS} on the national news last night. President Obama signed a bill to award them the gold medal of honor this week -- more than a decade after their service. It's about time!! I have officially decided that if I ever have a chance to participate in a WWII re-enactment, I will definitely be invoking the spirit of the classy, sassy dames from the U.S. Army Air Forces. See their amazing stories here.

The Blogger Manifesto Project.

2010-03-07T12:07:00.000-08:00

Manifesto #2

Manifesting Darkness
By Seraph + Splendor / Chintz of Darkness

{Virgin with Corona by Odilon Redon 1898}

Ok, dear readers, we know that we are guests here so we will try to be on our best behavior. We will wipe our feet on the doormat upon arriving and turn off the lights when we leave. We will refrain from sharpening our claws on the sofa and promise not to root through Tara’s sock drawer or peak into her diary…With that stated, we must take up the glove and accept the challenge, which is to simply vindicate darkness itself…

We believe in darkness in all of its many forms. Darkness is to wear the cool night upon your skin, to shun the sunlight, to crave the illumination of the stars. It is to drown ones senses in languid pools of indulgence, to drift upon velvet seas and feel the sting of satin…

{Inferno by Franz von Stuck 1908}

Darkness is the language of crows and ghosts. It slithers through one’s mind whispering of forgotten realms and lords of old. One must listen for its eloquence in ice and stone and the rustle of wings, for darkness is fey and wild and belongs not to the land of now…

We enfold ourselves in shades of darkness and paint it upon our being. It is the shadow that accompanies us on our daily tasks. Darkness is the color that covers our walls and drapes our doorways. It is the obsidian stain that drenches our carpets and chairs in a swathe of inky blackness. It is an altar to decadence and a shrine to beauty…

{Death at the Ball by Felicien Rops 1875}

{The Derelict by John Pryde}

Above all, darkness is the taste of freedom, of turning way from society’s norms, to embark on the path less taken. Fear not the dark, dear ones, and take to heart the words of Albert Camus… “There is no sun without shadow, and it is essential to know the night.”

::I want to thank S+S for being kind enough {and brave enough} to tackle the first guest manifesto. I am so thrilled to finally get things underway, and what better way to start than with their unique blend of the dark, strange, and surreal!? If you would like to learn more about this project, you can read about it here and here. If you would like to participate, please don't hesitate to contact me. I look forward to the upcoming manifestos!

Spring Wishlist 2010: Better in the Nude

2010-03-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

{click image for full details}.

I'm tired of denying it: spring is totally on my mind! I'm completely smitten with all variations of nude right now: pinky, peachy, beige-ish nudes. Here are a few items I wouldn't mind calling my own...

1. A fresh floral perfume-- the new Chloe fragrance is gorgeous!

2. A flowy dress that feels more like a nightgown.

3. A gorgeous nude leather satchel.

4. A wear-everywhere sandal -- soft, suede and strappy.

5. The perfect combination: black sequins and light pink chiffon.

6. A moody floral in a sexy tight pant.

7. A bright pinkish coral to make my lips pop.

8. A classic wedge with great buckle details.

9. The wear-everywhere tee: soft and slouchy.

What are your wishlist items for spring??

To-Do Lists: Works of Genius?

2010-03-03T12:16:00.000-08:00

A detailed, color-illustrated packing list?? If I could draw worth a damn, I'm pretty sure this is the direction my obsessive list-making habit would be headed. For all of us who who understand the cathartic and relaxing effects of a good list, the new exhibit entitled"To Do" at The Archives of American Art in Washington is a revelation! Apparently we are in good company: Picasso is just one among a number of artists who were avid list-makers. Dare I say list-mania is a sign of brilliance? Despite the fact that some psychologists believe list-making is an illusory and pointless attempt to control our chaotic lives, I prefer to believe the words of the American abstract artist, Charles Green Shaw: "Real happiness consists in not what we actually accomplish, but what we think we accomplish {via}." I think I can accomplish a lot! Just let me live in this illusion for a while...

Blog it Forward: What Inspires Me?

2010-03-02T19:27:00.000-08:00

French fashion bloggers! Pandora and The Cherry Blossom Girl use fashion as an expression of their love of history, art, and their beautiful city -- Paris.

It's time for the "Blog it Foward Mashup." This project was started by the talented San Francisco Girl by the Bay as a way for bloggers to share what inspires them. It's a bit like a chain letter for blogs, and today it's my turn. Check out the links at the end of this post to see who is coming up next...I'm pretty sure you'll be addicted {like I am!}. Or, you can find your favorite bloggers on the full schedule here.

Traveling to strange, out-of-the-way destinations. I've visited some bizarre places, like the Surrealist Folly Gardens in Xilitla, Mexico, and the desert art communes in Marfa, Texas, but there are so many unusual spots I'm dying to explore: the Absinthe Museum in New Orleans and the Seti satellites in Puerto Rico are at the top of my list.

Strong, eccentric women with a flare for the dramatic. Tilda Swinton is always unflinchingly original {left, dressed as the Marchessa Casati}, and Anais Nin lived a life more fascinating than even her books reveal.

Art, both new and old. The brilliant Hayv Kahraman is a recent discovery {left} and decadent artist Aubrey Beardsley is an obsession that will never fade...

Books that move, challenge, disgust, and inspire in equal parts... these are two books that changed my perception of literature forever.

Eating...and cooking: the ultimate creative act. It inspires and nourishes. Since discovering my love for cooking, I have come to realize that making food can be as fulfilling {and filling} as making art...corny but true. {Images via Canelle et Vanille}.

Vintage magazines and vintage advertising. I would wallpaper my apartment with vintage ads if I could! I think vintage ad designers are truly forgotten artistic geniuses...

What inspires you, dear readers??

And coming up in the Blog it Forward Mash-up:

• not your average ordinary 3/3 • occupation housewife 3/4 • oh hello! 3/5

• oh, hey great 3/8 • oh, mishka 3/9 • oh so beautiful paper 3/10

• old sweet song 3/11

A Beautiful Mourning.

2010-03-02T18:20:00.001-08:00

A dose of mid-week mourning seems like a major downer now that I consider it. Oh well, I'm going with the theme anyway...

A short absence in the blog world seems like the equivalent of an entire year somehow, doesn't it? I've been so busy. I took on a freelance photo editing project last week for a book on medical forensics {a random assignment...not an area of expertise by any means}, and I had no time to pay attention to my beloved blog. I hope she {and you} will forgive me. Needless to say, I was up to my eyeballs in photos of decapitations, bullet wounds, and diseased organs. Yes, a bit yuck. But also fascinating. Needless to say, this got me thinking a lot about death: not in a depressing, teen-angsty kind of way, but in a morbidly romantic kind of way. And who was more morbidly romantic than the Victorians? I sort of wish we hadn't forgotten how to make death a beautiful ritual...

::Check out Chrissy Piper's lovely Victorian mourning photostream on flickr / Learn about Victorian mourning rituals here / Have a look around this fun site that features Victorian low-brow art and objects, including Memento Mori...more goodies for my curiosity cabinet!

Artist: Maissa Toulet

2010-02-18T07:19:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered French artist Maissa Toulet's work, and I'm fascinated by her collections of trifles, reliquaries, and curiosities. Toulet assembles bits and pieces she finds in junk shops and antique fairs into mesmerizing displays. According to Toulet, placing these collections inside frames and in cases makes her feel free -- she needs the boundaries and limitations to express herself. The displays evoke a sense of the sacred, yet they also have an eerie quality about them, as if put together by a clever sorcerer with sinister intentions...

::If you live in Paris {or, lucky you, are going to be visiting}, you should check out Maissa's show at Gallery Marassa Trois, going on now until March 6.

P.S. These really inspire me to continue my quest to make my own cabinet of curiosities. I have collected a few things here and there over the years: stones, bones, feathers, strange little sculptures. Now I just need to figure out how to get my parents to part with one of their old glass apothecary cabinets!!!!

The Crisis Magazine

2010-02-17T06:57:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd share a bit about a new project we are starting at my other-other-other job at the Modernist Journals Project: we have begun digitizing early issues of The Crisis magazine, which was published in association with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People {starting in 1910}. The magazine was edited by the brilliant W.E.B. DuBois, author of the The Souls of Black Folk. Du Bois campaigned against racism, lynching, and segregation in the U.S., and the magazine takes up these topics, as well as addressing women's rights, democratic ideals, and fair access to education. For me, the visual elements are always as interesting {if not more} than the writing, so I thought I would share some of the early covers with you...the ones from the 20's are incredible, and you can really see the African/Egyptian influences on the art from that period. I'm looking forward to browsing some of the earlier issues, as well -- most of which have been hidden away in archives for decades!

::P.S. The Crisis Magazine is still being published today -- more than 100 years after it began! Check it out here.

Bijoux: Necklaces from J Crew and Anthropologie

2010-02-16T07:58:00.000-08:00

{via Anthropologie}

{via J Crew}

I am smitten by the pretty bijoux at J Crew and Anthropologie right now -- the necklaces in particular! They have a 1800's French feel about them. I imagine one catching me eye in a shop window as I stroll about the Paris Arcades in my swooshing gown...

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T08:33:00.000-08:00

I love you J.B.!!!! You have the uncanny ability to make even the smallest moments sparkle with laughter, irreverence, and fun...

"I am like a falling star who has finally found her place next to another in a lovely constellation, where we will sparkle in the heavens forever.” ~Amy Tan

The List: Erotic Poetry

2010-02-12T08:30:00.000-08:00

And down his mouth comes to my mouth! and down
His bright dark eyes come over me, like a hood
Upon my mind! his lips meet mine, and a flood
Of sweet fire sweeps across me, so I drown
Against him, die, and find death good.

~D.H. Lawrence

What better time to indulge in a bit of erotic-love poetry than Valentine's Day? I've always been drawn to poets who are able to turn the most carnal, bodily aspects of love into something utterly transcendent. Historically, erotic poetry has been able to stay under-the-radar and escape censorship in the western world, even when its contents were graphically sexual. Unlike the novel, which has seen its fair share of censoring, poetry seems to quietly evade accusations of pornography. I recently learned that beat poet Allen Ginsberg's 1956 poem "Howl" was one of the only poems brought to trial in the U.S. for obscenity. The charges were dropped, because the judge decided the poem had "redeeming social importance." How fascinating to think that what one person considers smut, another person considers an important expression of very human experiences...

::Here are some of my favorite erotic poems/poets, and while they certainly seem tame to us today, they still manage to speak to us in a beautifully carnal way!

Charles Algernon Swinburne's decadent "Love and Sleep."
The erotic lyrics of the ancient Greek poetess Sappho.
Walt Whitman's virile "I Sing the Body Electric."
D.H. Lawrence's sexy, rustic "Love on the Farm" {one of my all-time favorites}.
ee cumming's ode to the act of love: "i like my body when it is with your body."
The lesbian lyrics of {two women lovers with one name} Michael Field.
The desperate longing of the late Victorian poet Charlotte Mew.

**What are some of your favorite love/erotic poems?? Why not have a private poetry reading...just you and your honey??

Happy Weekend of Love, my Dears!

A Friend Who "Feels" You

2010-02-09T14:25:00.000-08:00

Reading Daniel J. Siegel's inspiring new book Mindsight, I was struck by his notion that "feeling felt" emotionally by another person is crucial for healthy childhood and adolescent development. Everyone has their share of difficulties growing up {some more than others}, but Siegel argues that as long as we have a person in our life we feel a connection with, be it a friend or a family member, our chances of becoming strong, resilient, happy adults increase exponentially.
Siegel says: "Being close to someone early in our lives gives us the clarity to know how we feel, and the ability to feel close to others."

This concept made me think of my oldest friend: Sara. I realized that in great part I have my precious friend Sara to thank for my relative balance and happiness as a "grown up." Sara and I both dealt with some rather difficult and traumatic experiences as teenagers, and I truly believe if it weren't for her love, support, and humor through those tough years, that I would probably be a terribly cranky, pessimistic, and downright antisocial person these days. I think I can safely say, more than any other person in my life {then or now}, Sara truly "felt" me! I hope I gave her at least a fraction of that experience, as well. Thanks so much dear Sara.

::Tell me readers, who is the person who has made you feel "felt" the most in your own life?? Don't forget to send them some love for Valentine's!! ♥♥♥

{And aren't these vintage lady friends super-cute in their jodhpurs??}

I Wanna Be a Gibson Girl, and You Can Be My Gibson Guy

2010-02-07T10:42:00.000-08:00

My hair is finally growing out {it's almost past my shoulders now}! My layers are practically gone, and my hair feels so thick. I'm recalling all of the fun things you can do when you actually have hair to play with. I have recently been experimenting with Edwardian/Gibson Girl styles: big, soft, feminine, and pouffy. Though I need to figure out how to get even MORE volume. I love the idea of offsetting this old-fashioned hairstyle with some very modern-looking clothes. Do you know who is an expert at the neo-Edwardian look {and insanely beautiful, to boot}? The lovely Harps from House of Harps blog. I don't even begin to do her justice, but her style is SO inspiring! And speaking of inspiration, here is some more Gibson goodness for your Monday...

{via Style Alchemy [left]}

Girl Crush: Uma Thurman

2010-02-03T15:22:00.001-08:00

I originally saw the incredible series of Polaroids by Hollywood casting director Bonnie Timmermann on Model's Own blog, and I was literally left breathless by this photo of Uma. This shot was taken at the very beginning of her career! I have always loved her -- lanky, sensual, and beautiful without being overly perfect. She is so sexy in her early films: The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Henry & June, and Dangerous Liaisons are some of my favorites {probably because I saw them when I was young and impressionable}. And Quentin Tarantino was certainly justified in making her his muse: Pulp Fiction is incredibly memorable, in part because of her quirky character; but, her role as "The Bride" in Kill Bill is just...well, killer. Have you heard there's a third Kill Bill in the works??

Enough gushing for now...

Current Obsession: Dreamy Chiffon Dresses

2010-02-02T14:23:00.000-08:00

{All dresses via Net-a-Porter}

If the new spring selection at Net-a-porter is any indicator, the general vibe of spring/summer is going to be a combination of Stevie-Nicks-ethereal and edgy-Greek-goddess. I'm not typically a flowy dress kind of girl, but after a few seasons of seeing hard edges, zippers, spikes, and uber-body-conscious looks everywhere, I'm ready for softer lines, longer hems, and CHIFFON -- lots and lots of chiffon! Stevie would approve...

Now, I just need to find some options that are a bit more price-friendly -- any suggestions?

::And what about you, dear readers? What trend are you ready to say "au revoir" to, and which are you ready to embrace?

Blog It Forward...

2010-02-01T10:34:00.001-08:00

Hello, my peaches. I wanted to let you all know about a fun project I will be participating in -- and you should, too! The Blog It Forward Mashup is headed up by the talented lady behind sfgirlbybay. Check out the details on her site, and drop Victoria a line if you want to take part. We’re going to share a connected stream of blogger posts on ‘what inspires us the most’ on our individual blogs, but link back & forward to the other blogs participating, a bit like a chain letter (but, hopefully a lot less annoying!).

This should be fun...

A Little "Ta-Ra--Ra-Boom De-Ay" for Your Mon-De-Ay

2010-02-01T06:58:00.000-08:00

Tell me this fun little ditty doesn't get stuck in your head the rest of the day! I've been envisioning myself Cancan dancing in a big pink dress ever since I found this on Youtube. Here's what the historian Holbrook Jackson had to say about this all-too-catchy tune:

"In the 1890's the chorus song "Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay" spread like a dancing flame through the land, obsessing the minds of young and old, gay and sedate until it became a veritable song-pest, provoking satires upon itself, even in the music halls of its origins. No song ever took a people in quite the same way: from 1892 to 1896 it affected the country {England} like an epidemic..."

The version above is from the 1940's film "Happy Go Lucky," but the original songstress that took the popular American song and turned it into a hit in England, was singer/dancer Lottle Collins. While touring in vaudeville in the United States in 1891, she heard the song "Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!" After she sang it at the Tivoli Music Hall in London in November 1891, it became her signature piece {source}. And isn't she divine!? No wonder the song was such a hit...

::More about the lovely Lottie Collins here.

Wyndham Lewis: A Frog with a Paint Brush

2010-01-29T09:08:00.001-08:00

My boyfriend and I cozied up under the blankets last night, and he read me some of his favorite excerpts from A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway's memoirs of his adventures among the American expatriate writers and artists in 1920's Paris.

In the book, Hemingway famously lampoons several well-known modernists, but his description of Wyndham Lewis [the founder of the Vorticist movement] is particularly scathing. He interchangeably refers to him as a "frog," "toe-jam" {ha!}, "evil," and "the nastiest man he has ever met." Lewis did become notorious for angering and offending almost every member of the artistic and literary community of the time, so Hemingway's assessment might not have been far from the truth...

I woke up this morning wondering: how is it possible that really nasty people can make beautiful art? I'm not personally a fan of Lewis' writing [though the boyfriend loves him]. But in my opinion, he is one of the most underrated visual artists of the early 20th century -- his portraits are particularly striking and poignant. For someone who loathed and mistreated fellow humans, he certainly seems to have had a knack for finding the beauty in them. Odd, isn't it?

:His portrait of the incomparable Dame Edith Sitwell {above} is one of my favorites by Lewis -- she seems so serene and wise sitting among her books. He captures her eccentricity and intelligence quite successfully. Not bad for a frog.

::See more of Lewis' work here / :: And I almost forgot, his manifesto, published in the little magazine Blast, is one of my favorites -- it's very funny. It's best read standing on a piece of furniture and speaking like a tyrannical ruler! I guess I don't mind his writing, after all.

The List: 20 Things to Do When You're Snowed-In and Stir Crazy

2010-01-28T13:17:00.000-08:00

{Photo via DeZeen}

Readers, we've been attacked with a bad case of winter weather here again. There is slushy, icy yuckiness as far as the eye can see. This has me wondering how much of this I can take before moving my frozen butt to a tropical island. But, in the attempt to see the positive in this situation, I asked myself: what are some creative things to do when you're stuck inside and waiting for the first bloom of spring? Aside from the usual napping and eating, I think these activities might actually stave off wintry boredom:

1. Go through your magazines or the photos on your computer and make a fashion inspiration folder/file.
2. Update and add to your Netflix queue or Amazon book wishlist.
3. Look through your cookbooks or look online for recipes you would love to try and make a recipes-to-make list.
4. Play a drinking game. So what if it's the middle of the day?
5. Rakata. My mother learned this word from her Puerto Rican boyfriend. If you don't speak Spanish, look it up.
6. Finish a book. I have at least 7 books around here that I've started...
7. Play dress-up, then clean out your closet.
8. Organize/digitize your photos.
9. Play cards. Canasta is a favorite. And no, I'm not elderly.
10. Get busy with that label-maker. Nothing makes you feel more organized that labeling everything.
11. Download new music, or make themed playlists, such as: "Music to Rakata To," or "Music for a Snowy Day When You're Pissed Off and Stuck Inside."
12. Discover new blogs -- play "follow the blue links" and see where it leads you. I've found some of my favorite blogs this way.
13. Mani/Pedi/Facial. 'Nuff said.
14. Call an old friend. You actually have time to chat!
15. Read some poetry, and then try writing one of your own. But, don't ask people to read it -- that's just awkward.
16. E-mail 5 people you love and tell them you're thinking about them.
17. Balance your budget. Well, when are you going to do it otherwise?
18. Get out the Ouija board!
19. Listen to an audio book: a method I discovered for being lazy AND literary.
20. Sell stuff on Ebay. Make some money to put toward a one-way ticket to a tropical island.

::What are your secrets for surviving winter weather??

Discipline Me!

2010-01-26T14:18:00.001-08:00

Let's talk about discipline. No, not that kind of discipline you naughty monkeys! I'm talking about self-discipline: an evil little hyphenated word with seriously un-fun connotations {and no Bettie Page in sight to make the pain seem like a party!}...

Here is my question: how can you improve self-discipline without turning into a gloomy workaholic?? I have a ton of stuff on my plate: teaching, researching, "writing" a dissertation, volunteering, blogging...and still trying to have a life, keep my toilets clean, and pay attention to my pets {oh, and my and boyfriend}. There are just some days when I have a hard time prioritizing all of this and keeping my projects in perspective. For example, my dissertation seems so huge and overwhelming right now that I find myself ignoring it and putting it on the backburner, rather than facing it head-on.

::Do you have any tips for getting motivated on big projects? Training yourself to manage time more wisely? Stopping the excuses and just doing the work that needs to be done?

Where is beautiful Bettie and her whip when you need them most??

Current Obsession: Mustard and Red

2010-01-26T10:06:00.000-08:00

Let's just ignore any immediate associations with McDonald's golden arches, because I am really feeling this mustard/red color combination right now...in an incredibly chic, non-McDonald's-cheeseburger kind of way. If you've been following my blog for a while, you might remember me obsessing about my attraction to mustard yellow some time ago. Now I am dying to rock a mustard frock with some bright red lips and red ruby earrings ala Diane Kruger at the SAG awards [dress by designer Jason Wu].

And while we're here, can we just give Miss Diane K. a nod for always being interesting and edgy, without ever really seeming like she's trying to be either. I mean, who wears this color to an award's show? I love her!

{:Photos via StyleFrizz}.

Blogger Manifesto Project, Part II

2010-01-25T06:08:00.000-08:00

Manifesto#1
A BEAUTY MANIFESTO
by Tara

Beauty is paradox.
For everything you believe, you must first realize you believe the opposite.
Beauty is a rush of sensation: a sweet, unexpected taste that forces you to close your eyes in order to fully savor it.
Then beauty is rich, demanding, heavy in the stomach.

Always question your bodily response. But never let the question destroy the spontaneous pleasure.
Cast your net, savor passionate reactions; for all things worth keeping are fleeting and ephemeral. Digesting beauty is a life's work.

Analyze your affinities. Do not espouse empty words about your fascinations, unless you crave emptiness.
Sometimes the facade can be prettiest.

But know you are more than this.
You are also a paradox.
Beauty is both perfectly clear and always just out of our line of vision. We are so certain of our tastes, our way of seeing. But can we ever really be?
What you love perplexes me. Please make me understand, so I can seal my loathing shut or set it free.

Beauty is never a given.
It can terrify and inspire in different measures, in different eyes.
One set of eyes perceives a phantom, a shadow passing at the top of a staircase, and is convinced this is all and everything.
While others choose to follow a ghost.
Is it the thing or the idea you want?

Decide at every moment what makes you feel most like yourself. Or the you of your dreams. They are the same.
And then challenge it. Never grow too complacent in your perception.
When you hold something beautiful, does it make you whole, remind you of your own materiality: a jewelry box of flesh?

Love things, really love them. Have a reason. Or don’t. But love them. They have value beyond their price.
They are you.
All beautiful things are borrowed.
All things, both beautiful and ugly, are made by skillful hands. All objects have value to someone.

Consider whether beauty equals love.
Ask: What sweet morsel will I place on my tongue?

{::Read more about the project here / e-mail me if you would like info on participating!!}

Friday Mood Board

2010-01-22T09:17:00.000-08:00

{::I really can't stop dreaming of summer: particularly the divine retro swimsuits at Anthropologie right now}.

I've become so prolific at posting links on Twitter lately that I haven't felt like doing a "Weekend Links" post for a while. I'm sure the mood will strike soon. If you usually like my links and you're on Twitter, head over there and and have a peek...

What do you have planned for the weekend, my pretty peaches? Tonight we are celebrating my boyfriend's birthday with man food [chicken fried steak] and man activities [shuffleboard and pool]. I'm afraid the rest of the weekend will be spent grading papers and doing "work."

Today, I thought I would just do a little mood board with some of the things swirling around in my head. What have you been reading/watching/dreaming of lately...?

::I might not have ever mentioned how big of a sci-fi nerd I am, but the cat's out of the bag! I just finished watching Battlestar Galactica, and I'm looking forward to the new spin-off series: Caprica.

::Hayv Kahraman is a new artist I recently discovered: her exotic mix of Middle Eastern influences with an Italian Renaissance vibe is so captivating!

::I am in love with this fashion history book I received for Christmas; I want to frame every picture...

::I have been watching old Pixies videos online with my boyfriend and arguing for their status as the greatest band of all time. What is your vote?

A Loving Ode to Your Stuff and Mine...

2010-01-21T15:25:00.000-08:00

{all photos via ffffound}

This might sound strange, but I love my stuff: all of my little quirky collections, hand-me-downs, gifts received from friends and loved ones over the years. Does this make me materialistic? Well...yes! But, maybe materialism doesn't have to be such a dirty word. What if we thought of it this way: if you are materialistic, you cherish your things, you see them as connecting you with others, both past and present; you value the things you have worked hard for; you are deeply sentimental. This doesn't mean you are necessarily greedy or even that cherish objects more than people. Perhaps it just means you find value and comfort in the things you have lovingly gathered around you.

The people we often accuse of being materialistic are typically the ones who see their stuff as ephemeral, replaceable, throwaway -- the ones who are always after the next best, biggest, blinking object of desire. But, this isn't materialism, this is the opposite -- this is a blatant dissatisfaction with possessions, a driving need to fill a void with more and more and more to no avail...

I would like to bring "materialism" back into the light, take away its status as a dirty word, and renew our connection with the things that fill our homes and hearts. I'm not calling for a preoccupation or obsession with stuff, but rather, a simple nod to the value our unique posessions bring to our life -- however small, strange, or worthless they might seem to others. Let's give our stuff a little love!!

Blogger Manifesto Project, Part I.

2010-01-19T15:18:00.000-08:00

"In the old times men carried out their rights for themselves as they lived, but nowadays every baby seems born with a social manifesto in its mouth much bigger than itself.” ~Oscar Wilde

{The Zurich Dada group at Cafe Voltaire...marching to the absurd beat of their own manifesto}.

Though Wilde obviously thought the practice of manifesto-writing was getting out of hand at the time he wrote those words {and little did he know, the trend would continue to spread rampantly into the early 20th century}, today the manifesto continues to be a fascinating, witty, perplexing, and often infuriating form of expression...

I became interested in manifestos as a genre several years ago, after reading many of the famous artistic manifestos. The manifestos for art movements such as Vorticism, Surrealism, Futurism, and Symbolism made me feel equal parts fascinated and infuriated -- they were so staunch and irrational in their opinions! What drew me to these raucous, outspoken documents was their nerve, their sheer audacity. I'm not what you might call an audacious or even stubbornly opinionated person {though I've been working on finding that side of myself}, but for some reason, the notion of writing a manifesto of my own has nagged me for some time now. This obsession with manifestos has also turned into a deeper curiosity about the role of manifestos in today's world: particularly in the blog world.

Manifestos are defined as: "a public declaration of the purpose, principles, or plan of action of a group or individual." While manifestos were originally political in nature, they have since addressed issues spanning topics from parenting and gardening, to technology and fashion. A manifesto can be as much about lifestyle convictions as social and political convictions. I have come to believe that the creative exercise of writing a manifesto can teach us a lot about ourselves, our beliefs, and our priorities. I think in some ways that our blogs are like subtle, unspoken manifestos of what we love, what we are drawn to, and what we find of value. And I can't help but wonder: what would your manifesto say if you could narrow your convictions and passions into one, condensed package of words?

Would it be funny and cheeky?
Serious and somber?
Eclectic or pointed?
Beautiful or ugly?
Poetic or pragmatic?
Political or aesthetic?
Youthful or wise?

All of these thoughts have brought me to start a new series of posts that I'm calling the "Blogger Manifesto Project." I imagine this project to grow beyond me and this blog, because I think with the contribution of other bloggers, it has the potential to be amazing! So, over the next few weeks and months, I will be gathering together a group of bloggers that I feel have a distinctive voice and style, and challenge them to write their own manifesto to share here on Nothing Elegant. The range will be broad and the topics will vary. It is my dream to gather a group of talented voices in many categories: interior design, photography, fashion, shopping, music, crafting, feminism, inspiration, art, cooking, etc.

Thanks for bearing with me on this long post, and I hope you will stick around for this exciting project. I challenge each and every one of you to try your hand at writing a manifesto for your life, your loves, or your blog -- I did, and I will be sharing mine next Monday!

::Follow this link for a huge list of other manifestos through history :: These are some of my favorites: BLAST, A Cyborg Manifesto, and The Humanist Manifesto.

Next Stop: Rabbit Hole

2010-01-14T16:36:00.000-08:00

This week has been altogether crap-tastic, if you ask me. The holidays are over and real life has started again. I have a student in the class I am teaching who seems unable to hide his disgust at having to be there {and tripping me up during lectures when I catch him rolling his eyes}. And the situation in Haiti is saddening and terrible. It's times like this that I feel a little like falling down a rabbit hole and getting lost somewhere for a while...

::On the upside {and speaking of rabbit holes} Alice in Wonderland comes out in March.

{photos via FFFound}

The List: French Pop á La Carte.

2010-01-12T18:14:00.000-08:00

::I have been feeling guilty lately about how behind I am at responding to your individual comments {though I always go visit your blogs!}. I read and love every single one of them, but I just get busy...and forgetful. So, to make up for it, I thought I would make you a fun playlist of some of my favorite cheeky, sexy French pop music -- a great soundtrack for sunny day driving, cooking crepes, or dancing around the house in lingerie {or flannel PJ's, as the case may be}. And, who couldn't use a bit of a midweek pick-me-up? Enjoy!

Laisee tomber Les Filles by France Gall.

Désenchanté {mix 2001} by Mylene Farmer
Un Autre Monde by Telephone.

Marie Doucer, Marie Colère by Marie Laforet.

Je T'aime...Moi Non Plus by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin.

Bonnie and Clyde by Brigitte Bardot.
Touts les Nuit by Les Calamités.

La Plus Belle Por Aller Danser by Sylvie Vartan.

Tous Les Garcon et Les Filles by Francoise Hardy.

Peut Etre Une Angine by Anais.

...and tell me this video is not adorably hilarious!

*P.S. This is off-topic, but important: if you can help, here is the link for The American Red Cross. They are sending funds to Haiti to help in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. The average Haitian lives on $2 a day, so you can't imagine how far even a little can go!

Grandiose Decay: Ruins of Detroit

2010-01-08T17:30:00.000-08:00

The new collection of photos by Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre are mesmerizing and romantic in their baroque beauty; the decaying Detroit buildings they capture seem to beckon us to wander through their crumbling ruins, to peek into their dark corners for ghosts -- both the historical and paranormal varieties. But there is also a lingering, deep sadness attached to them, sadness for what for what once was and has been lost...

I cannot help but ask why I feel sadness when I look at these photos, but do not feel the same emotion when I look at photos of, for example, the ruins of ancient Greece. The answer certainly lies in their relative newness: most of these structures were built in the early 20th century, a time not so disconnected from our very own. But they have become something akin to pre-historic ruins. The life and collective importance of the buildings are gone and only the shell remains. I wonder, what buildings which we cherish today will become ruins in the future? Do you, lovely readers, get this same feeling of loss and regret when you see a beautiful old building wasting away?

I want to leave you with a fragment from Charles Baudelaire's poem "The Flowers of Evil" in which he mourns, not the old, crumbling buildings of Paris, but the new, modern construction that began taking over the city in the mid 1800's. He already saw the new city as a collection of impending ruins:

"The old Paris is gone (the face of a city
Changes more quickly, alas! Than the mortal heart)

Paris changes, but nothing of my melancholy
Gives way. New palaces, scaffolding, blocks,
Old suburbs, everything for me becomes allegory,
While my dear memories are heavier than rocks..."

::Find Marchand and Meffre's book here; some beautiful quotes on ruins; a link to Baudelaire's poem; you can take a guided tour of Detroit's ruined buildings.

List Love!

2010-01-07T15:38:00.000-08:00

List-making is like a glorious disease: you are compelled, driven mad by the gnawing desire to makes lists for everything from "All the Food I Still Need to Eat Before I Die" to "Movies I Have Seen That Made Me Want to Remove My Eyeballs." I make lists for the esoteric, the inspirational, the everyday, and the mundane. One of my favorite newer features on this blog is...you guessed it: "The List."

What kind of lists would you like to see more of here on Nothing Elegant? Personal, art-related, books, fashion-focused, local tid-bits?

...stay tuned for lists I already have up my sleeve, such as: my favorite dirty poetry; the best stop-motion animation films; women rockers whose style I want to steal; weird vacation spots; concerts to put on your calendar this year...and more.

::More links for the list-related: A place to indulge your addiction / Airam also shares my penchant for lists / List-makers with a twist / A secret society / My all-time favorite place to buy list-making materials.

Oxford Heaven at Free People

2010-01-07T07:57:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Free People has the most amazing selection of oxfords right now...each one more adorable than the next?? If you've been on the hunt, look no further...

Current Obsession: Chris Benz's Circus Chic

2010-01-06T12:22:00.000-08:00

One of my most surreal childhood memories took place at the circus. When I was 10 years old, I won a radio contest and the prize was a night in the circus {not at -- in}. I was declared "The Princess of Barnum & Bailey's Circus," and I was dressed up in a spangled, be-ribboned costume and paraded around the rings in a horse drawn carriage. It was truly like a dream {or like a weird Italian film from the 60's}. Ever since then, I've had a bit of a secret fascination with all things circus-related. This is undoubtedly why I am so drawn to Chris Benz's Spring 2010 collection: there is something vaguely "cotton candy-meets-sequined acrobat-meets-clown" about his pieces. Feel like a night under the big-top??

::For the circus-obsessed: gorgeous book; one of the best shows ever; creepy film.

{Find more Chris Benz at style.com}

Okie Blog Award Nominations.

2010-01-03T11:07:00.000-08:00

I feel a bit like I'm running for office {which is ironic, because I hate politics}, but I would like to make a self-serving request: if you enjoy my blog, and you have a moment...or the inclination, I would be honored if you sent a quick e-mail nominating me for the Okie Blog Awards {this is Oklahoma's annual blog recognition awards}. Just go to this link, choose a category {the best match might be "culture blog"} and send an e-mail with the category, name and link to my blog.

Also, if you are a follower of other inspirational and hard-working Oklahoma bloggers, like the ladies behind Progress on the Prairie, Greedy Girl, or Design Crush, you might consider giving them a nod in the nominations, as well!!

**The deadline for nominations is Feb. 3rd! A warm thank-you in advance!

Happy New Year: Bonne Année 2010!

2009-12-31T09:53:00.000-08:00

This year, in the tradition of the French, I am going to make a wish or two {a voeu} instead of the usual stringent resolutions I have made...and often broken...in years past. Doesn't it just seem more romantic and less puritan to send a wish out into the universe, rather than setting yourself up for punishment when you fail? Author Debra Ollivier says:

"...a wish is a mutable thing that can be blown away by the wind. A wish is like a cloud that might drift your way but cannot be forced to do so. It is langurous and fanciful and who knows where it will end up. A resolution, on the other hand, is a firm, concise obligation. It's a contract between you and your conscious that is deep-fried in moral values. A resolution has edges and they will menace you forever if you don't pay attention to them. A resolution, in short, can become one of those deadly virtues if it conspires too radically against the Gods of Pleasure."

This year, despite loads of work and obligations, I wish for the "Gods of Pleasure" to stay front and center in my life...good food, good drink, good books, good love, good adventures, good growth, good living.

** Happy New Year, Mes Amies!!! May pleasure visit you often this year...

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T11:11:00.000-08:00

I want to wish everyone a wonderful holiday with friends and family! I will be leaving tomorrow for Tennessee, and posting will probably be spotty for a week or so...hope you'll stick with me.

I look forward to the upcoming year, and I'm already pondering new posts and projects for this blog. I have one particular project in the works that I'm excited about...more info soon.

Have a beautiful holiday, my wonderful readers!!!

Fur the Love of Bundling Up...

2009-12-21T16:53:00.000-08:00

Screw the Snuggie! Women in the 20's knew how to stay warm. Baby, it's cold...

::Images from The Roaring Twenties.

Design Find: Website Book Covers

2009-12-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

French graphic designer Retrofuturs imagines the past, present, and future colliding to create an uncanny-yet-familar set of images. I find his play on website "vintage book covers" intriguing...do you see these as a social/political act? What is the message here?

::Find more of his work on Flickr!

Weekend Links.

2009-12-18T07:04:00.000-08:00

I'm technically on vacation now, and I've been indulging in holiday laziness and frivolity. I'm sure I should be doing more work toward my dissertation, but instead I've been sleeping in, catching up with friends, and gallivanting around town. Let me gush about two great local outings I had this week {since I don't get out much these days!}: I had an unexpected surprise this week from Shae at the Tulsa Food Blog, who set me up with a luxurious mini-facial at Spa Lux here in Tulsa {they are one of her sponsors}. I really cannot say enough about my experience there -- the facial was so relaxing, my esthetician Morgan was sweet and professional, and my skin was ridiculously soft when she was done. It all made me feel so pampered -- thanks Shae, and thanks everyone at Spa Lux! I also wanted to thank Kristen at Cheap Thrills Vintage for always being so gracious and helping me find just what I'm looking for -- I finally bought a red velvet dress! It's a snug, 60's empire-waist dress with giant, poufy sleeves. Now, someone just needs to have a fancy holiday party...anyone?

Enjoy the links this weekend, m'dears!

::Tom Palombo's Flickr photostream of Paris, circa 1962 has been making the blog rounds, but if you haven't had the chance to see them, you must head over for some soft-focus inspiration.

::The Singular -- a new blog featuring fashion polaroids!

::Check out the Best Interior Design Blogs, according to the UK Times.

::Mossiere -- gorgeous scientific and industrial design photo-blog.

::V Magazine will devote their January issue to plus-size models {in other words, average sized women}. Maybe they hope this will save them from the black-face debacle?

::Have you casted your vote in Vogue's "Best Dressed of the Decade" yet?

Special Offer for Readers: 20% Off at Digby & Iona!

2009-12-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

The talented and imaginative jewelry designers behind Digby and Iona have kindly offered Nothing Elegant readers 20% off their purchase from now until New Years. Just enter the word "holiday" in the promo section when checking out {this even includes their new collection}. My favorite pieces are the spyglass necklace and the porcelain and gold skulls! Happy shopping!

Holiday Wishes and Red Velvet Dreams...

2009-12-14T16:22:00.001-08:00

To be fair, I know Santa is already bringing me a few of the items on my wish list...but no one has claimed the velvet dress or the satin PJ's yet!

Amazon Kindle: I was uber-skeptical about the electronic book idea for a while, but when I realized I could download a ton of classic literature for next to nothing {and save room on my bookshelves}, I was sold.

Betsey Johnson Satin PJ's: Winter has a tendency to make you feel a little less than seductive {due to erratic shaving habits and more layers of clothing}, but I think satin nighties might help.

J Crew Annalise Ruffle Cami: the color and the face-framing ruffles just make me smile, and this would work well layered or worn alone in the warmer months.

Toast Silk and Velvet Dress: A perfect party dress for fall and winter...plus, I cannot stop obsessing about velvet.

Cuisinart Coffee Maker: This is a sign I'm officially a grown-up. No sir, no more $20 appliances for me!

Marc Jacobs Lola eau de parfum: such a gorgeous scent...and an equally pretty bottle.

::What is on your wish list this year????

The List: Top 15 Albums of 2009

2009-12-14T11:19:00.000-08:00

Everyone is coming out with their "Best Of" lists for 2009, and being a sucker for lists of any kind, I wanted to jump on the bandwagon! So, won't you please allow me to play music critic for a day? I'm very opinionated about music -- not in the "I'm cooler than you, because I listen to X, Y, and Z" way, but in the "I Know What I Like" kind of way. I don't talk about my music-loves on this blog as much as I should...maybe because I feel that music is a very personal thing, and I don't necessarily want to push my tastes on others. But, this seems like as good a time as any to do a little pushing {*wink*}. What were your favorite albums of the year? I would LOVE to know what was on your heavy-rotation! These are my top 15 picks for most-love-worthy albums of the year [in no particular order!]:

Grizzly Bear/Vekatimest :: complex, yet poppy vocals; the phrase "crescendos of happiness" comes to mind.
Bat for Lashes/Two Suns :: melodic and moody, with some gothic/electronic influences; her aesthetic is just amazing.
Florence and the Machine/Lungs :: cheeky, intense song writing, with mythic themes; a killer, powerful voice.
Camera Obscura/My Maudlin Career :: sweet and melancholic, but never sad or sappy; good for curling up in your PJ's.
Depeche Mode/Sounds of the Universe :: a surprisingly strong comeback; an even more intense and eerie take on their old sound.
Dirty Projectors/Bitte Orca :: a quirky, slightly atonal mix of R&B and artsy-indie-ingenuity.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros/Up from Below :: the most underrated album of the year! Every song is fun, free-wheeling, and catchy as hell; great for driving with the windows down.
Lady Gaga/The Fame Monster :: C'mon...you know you love her. Her videos are amazing, her costumes are amazing...her music makes you dance. What more can you ask for?
Fever Ray/Self-titled :: an absolute original; shrill, dark, distorted vocals overlay a mix of pulsing, eerie electronic music...and she makes the BEST videos ever.
Neko Case/Middle Cyclone :: arguably the best alt/country singer alive, and this is arguably her best album so far; filled with poetic song-writing and intensely beautiful melodies.
La Roux/Self-titled :: it takes talent to write songs this catchy; saccharin-sweet, synth-pop.
The xx/xx :: sexy, subtle love songs with an 80's New Wave vibe.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs/It's Blitz :: each song catchier and dancier {is that a word?} than the next.
Glasvegas/Self-Titled :: this is just good, loud, fun rock-n-roll, with a sexy Scottish accent to boot...their single "Geraldine" is one of the best songs of the decade.
Phoenix/Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix :: they're French and cute, which doesn't hurt; but they're also amazing at what they do, which is straight-up pop-rock goodness.

::P.S. Thanks to my Twitter & Facebook friends who made suggestions for this list, as well. I'm listening to some of the albums you mentioned...and maybe there will have to be an addendum to this list if there is anything I love!

::P.S.S. A winner has been drawn for the Perricone Cold Fusion giveaway!! Lucky, lucky you Clarissa, from Brownies and Oreos! What a great holiday gift for yourself ;)

Weekend Links.

2009-12-11T07:05:00.000-08:00

{Film still from "Lay Down Lean" by The Belles of Black Diamond Field}

How has the week treated you? Any exciting holiday plans for the weekend? This is the first time in a long time that I don't have ANY plans for the weekend. I'm actually kind of excited about that...time to catch up on my DVD-watching! Speaking of movies, the main-man and I went to see "Fantastic Mr. Fox," and I really cannot recommend it enough! Do you have any must-see movie recommendations? I'm on the lookout for both new and old films to add to my repertoire. As always, I hope you enjoy the links --

::Finally! Two years of hard work digitizing Scribner's Magazine {from 1910-1921} has finally come to fruition. Come see what myself and the staff at the Modernist Journals Project have been up to!! You can search images, ads, and articles in Scribner's...and many other gorgeous magazines from the early 20th century. {Yes, this is my other-other job}.

::I love the digital collages by artist Julien Pacaud.

::Target is partnering with Liberty of London?? This could possibly be amazing...or not. It's always a bit of a crap-shoot with Target, isn't it?

::Utterly obsessed and fascinated with the short, 8 mm films of Maximilla Lucaks and Sophie Flicker {aka. The Belles of Black Diamond Field}.

::What combines fashion and crayons, you ask? The BEST coloring book ever!!

::Frontier-themed holiday decor and party ideas over at the always-original Hollister Hovey.

::Ladies holiday wish list from 1942, updated at Behind the Curtain.

::Fashion designers-turned-film-directors: Tom Ford's A Single Man and Lagerfeld's Paris-Shanghai.

::Screen Search Fashion archive is a thematic guide to fashion in films from the 20's and 30's -- with images and film clips!

Design Find: Vintage Art Nouveau Lithographs

2009-12-10T06:18:00.000-08:00

To me, there is nothing more beautiful than Art Nouveau's swirling, organic lines -- did you know people used to refer to it as "noodle style?" The expression seems a little silly...yet apt. These stunning French lithographs from circa 1900 would make an amazing gift for the typophile {or the Francophile, for that matter}. I'm a complete sucker for repetitive patterns in design and decor, so I imagine an entire wall filled with a variety of these alphabet prints -- it would help me remember to mind my P's and Q's!

::Check out Art Decor and Banana Strudel's Etsy shops for more Art Nouveau lithographs.

P.S. One more day until the Perricone Cold Fusion giveaway ends! Enter here.

The List: Books Worth Kissing Santa For

2009-12-09T06:58:00.000-08:00

...fuzzy beard and all!

::Grunge by Michael Lavine.

::Magic: 1400's-1950's / On Ugliness by Umberto Eco.

::1000 Degrees: Deyrolle.

::I Love Your Style by Amanda Brooks / I Know How to Cook by Ginette Mathiot

::Baroque Baroque by Stephen Calloway.

Current Obsession: Lipstick Queen

2009-12-08T06:08:00.000-08:00

Not only is Poppy King the creator and founder of the new line of luxury lip products, Lipstick Queen, but she is also a writer, an entrepreneur, and an inspiration to women {and men} everywhere. With no experience or training, Poppy started her own successful line of cosmetics in Australia at age 18. Following her success down under, she worked in New York for a large cosmetics corporation for several years. She recently started her own cosmetics company in NYC.

Inspired by glamorous lips across the decades -- from seductive medieval lip stains to 70's disco shine -- Lipstick Queen features "unusual lipsticks infused with all the glamour, the fun, the style and the cheekiness that is inherent in being female."

Need I even mention the drop-dead-gorgeous art nouveau packaging? Poppy has said one of her inspirations is the decadent artist Aubrey Beardsley {one of my favorites as well}. I'm pretty sure Poppy is my new girl-crush...and Lipstick Queen is my new obsession.

::Check out Poppy's story here; get your hands on her book here, and load up on her beautiful lipstick at Barney's New York.

Sphinx: The Life and Art of Leonor Fini

2009-12-07T06:01:00.000-08:00

Artist Leonor Fini was said to have once brazenly asked Picasso why he kept doing "the same old shit." Fini's refusal to defer to the art world or to its artistic royalty is one of the many reasons she is so intriguing...and so hard to pin down as an artist. Her style can be described as something between dreamy surrealism, ornate rococo, and sensual decadence. Much of her work focuses on solitary female figures and uncanny animals in personal dreamscapes akin to the deeply psychological world of fellow-surrealist Frida Kahlo.

Fini was friends with many of the early 20th centuries pre-eminent surrealist artists: De Chirico, Bresson, and Max Ernst, among others. Despite her association with these acclaimed men, Fini would not accept the 'role' of muse, choosing instead to go her own unique way {CFM Gallery}. Her independent spirit has long baffled critics who attempt to place her in a particular style or "school" of art. She was recently called "the most undervalued artist of the 20th Century" by the Art Dealers Association of America.

"The questions as to what "school" of art she belongs to; to whom can she be compared, is she a painter, an illustrator, a designer, a feminist, a mystic, a voluptuary are superfluous. Her answer would have been that she is Leonor Fini." ~Neil Zukerman

::To learn more about Leonor Fini, read here and here, or purchase the gorgeous new book by Peter Webb here. To purchase Leonor Fini original art {yes, you can still buy her art}, visit Idbury Prints.

Weekend Links

2009-12-05T11:19:00.000-08:00

{Mind-boggling wallpaper from Tapeten Agentur}

I've spent most of the day so far catching up on blog-reading and staring at my prettily-wrapped packages. I finished all of my holiday shopping early this year, and now I can just sit back and enjoy! I tried to buy most of my gifts on Etsy, and it feels much more meaningful than the hustle and bustle of the mall and the big department stores. How is your list coming along?? If you're still stressing about finding something special for that someone special, be sure to check out my gift guide for those hard-to-buy for folks on your list. I truly hope you are all able to relax, breathe, and enjoy this time of year...

Here are some fun links for your spare time!

::You can certainly find memorable items on Etsy...the ones featured on the hilarious Regretsy are just memorable in a different way.

::Hey, local-yokels! Check out the tips and restaurant reviews on Tulsa Food Blog.

::Dandies and Quaintrelles is a club I would be honored to be a member of -- be sure to check out the images from their "Tweed Ride" on their Facebook page!

::A compelling talk on how technology enables intimacy.

::What I wouldn't give to be in NYC for Tim Burton's exhibition at MOMA.

::An Education: 60's era period piece film -- looks romantic, beautiful and inspiring!

::There is no rest for the wallpaper obsessed; awe-inspiring wall art at Decor8.

::My bar area is currently being taken over by Christmas gifts, but as soon as the holiday season is over, I'm going experiment some more with chic-ifying it...using these photos as inspiration!

Current Obsession: Photographer Jan Durina

2009-12-03T17:29:00.000-08:00

"With this sense of the splendour of our experience and of its awful brevity, gathering all we are into one desperate effort to see and touch, we shall hardly have time to make theories about the things we see and touch." ~Walter Pater

The erotic/neurotic photography of Jan Durina seems to capture the aftermath of these moments Pater speaks of: moments of utter ecstasy...moments when the toll of decadence and sensuous experience push us over the edge of rational thought...of consequence.

Such exhausting, beautiful darkness...

Holiday Giveaway and Perricone Coupons!

2009-12-01T15:42:00.000-08:00

When the folks at Perricone offered to do a giveaway on my blog, I couldn't pass it up. First of all, I'm a total skincare and anti-aging product junkie. Second, I have heard AMAZING things about Perricone products!

The winner of this giveaway will receive a jar of their Cold Plasma {normally $150 retail!}: "Cold Plasma is a universal skin care product; suited for anyone, no matter how old your skin is, what your skin type is, or whether you’re male or female. It works through a patented ionic (i.e. charged particles) suspension carrier system which allows for your skin to extract from Cold Plasma’s formula according to your individual, unique needs." Sounds pretty intriguing, no?

Money is tight for everyone right now, so this is a wonderful opportunity to try something you might not otherwise be able to splurge on [or give it as a gift!]. Be sure to check their site for a Perricone Coupons, too.

Here are the contest rules:

::The contest will last for 10 days starting from the time it is posted [Friday Dec. 11 at around 6 p.m.].

::Leave a comment on this post, including your e-mail address. The winner will be chosen at random.

::Unfortunately, this giveaway is only available for U.S. residents.

**Good luck, my pretty peaches!!

P.S. The winner for my calendar giveaway was Maggie! Her holiday tradition of the Christmas bat was just too cute...anything that combines a bit of Halloween with Christmas is a winner in my book...

Independent Holiday Gift Guide: Etsy Version

2009-11-30T13:13:00.000-08:00

For The Francophile :: Mon Tresor necklace and charms by Tiny Token Designs :: French-inspired soaps from Sweet Petula.

For the Quirky Collector ::Rocco Racoon Skull by Melissa Dixon ::Specimen 10. Common Hare/Narcomedusae on Geology and Birds of Indiana book from Wonder Cabinet.

For the Sweet Tooth :: Red Velvet Cookies by Indulging Sweets :: Homemade Maple Syrup Marshmallows by Whimsy and Spice.

For the Avant Gardist :: Plum Organza Sequin Collar by Mary Not Martha ::Fabric Totem Neck Piece by Squillinan.

For the Manly Man ::Custom leather beer holster by Etrelles :: Whiskey Eau de Toilette from Portland General Store.

For the Eccentric Historian ::Roman Bust silk-screened pillow by Utilitarian Franchise ::Belgian WWII Gas Mask from Vintage Army-Navy.

Calendar Giveaway!

2009-11-30T10:40:00.000-08:00

Just a quick reminder: don't forget to enter my holiday giveaway for a chance to get your hands on a fabulous, limited edition, hand printed calendar by artist Jen Hewitt. The deadline is tonight at midnight: click here for entry rules. Best of luck!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T07:54:00.000-08:00

Today, I just want to take the opportunity to say "thank you" to all of my wonderful, kind, intelligent readers who keep this blog fun and always inspire and challenge me! If you are celebrating Thanksgiving today, I hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends, plenty of yummy food, and lots of laughs. What are you thankful for today??

{To see more of Benny Horne's Pilgrim-inspired photo shoot, visit Foto Decadent}

The Joy of Gossip

2009-11-25T14:33:00.000-08:00

Barbara Walters once said, "Show me someone who doesn't gossip, and I'll show you someone who isn't interested in people." Gossip's got a bad name, and I think it might be high-time to rescue it from the realms of tawdry tabloid nonsense and mean-spirited fibbing. Is it crazy to think that gossip might actually be healthy when practiced in moderation? In her book, The Art of Conversation, Catherine Blyth suggests that good, old-fashioned gossip is a balm to society's increasingly alienated sense of community and intimacy. She says:

"To me, gossip is a growth industry, ever more essential in atomized urban society, as family ties weaken and networks grow wider, looser, and diffuser...While monitoring a virtual crowd of internet pals can accentuate loneliness if you're not truly in touch, gossip remains frienship's primary medium...{103}"

I think of gossip as a form of social analysis -- like talk therapy, minus the person who probably needs the therapy. People are fascinating. I want to know what makes them tick, why they say and do the things they do {I'm also a bit obsessed with self-analysis, but that's a subject for another time...}. You will rarely find me gossiping about people I don't like, or who, at the very least, I don't find interesting. You will also never find me making something up about someone out of boredom or animosity. People are far too interesting for this to be necessary!

Here are some more reasons why we could all use a dose of healthy gossip:

It makes us feel better -- it allows us to see that things could be worse; at least we don't have that habit, problem, or compulsion!
It gets us excited. Have you ever noticed how animated people get, how their eyes light up, when you tell them you have a juicy tid-bit?
It's an amazing conversation catalyst. Is the discussion creeping to a halt? Mentioning a mutual friend's latest faux-pas usually gets things animated again.
It creates a bond. Any time friends can get together and analyze, relish, question, ponder, or simply laugh at something {or someone} together, intimacy and understanding grows.

I certainly hope I've given others occasion to gossip about me from time-to-time. How awful to think I've never done anything shocking enough to merit being gossiped about!

::What's your stance on gossip? Is all gossip bad gossip?

{P.S. I hope you didn't mind the crass, but hilarious, MikWright image above!}

Holiday Giveaway: 2010 Shoes Wall Calendar by Jen Hewitt

2009-11-23T10:07:00.000-08:00

I was going to wait until the beginning of December for this giveaway, but I'm just so excited about it {and I'm already feeling the holiday spirit}, so I'm going to announce it now. This contest features an adorable, original silkscreened calendar by printmaker Jen Hewitt, featuring what else but...shoes! It's definitely a classier alternative to that calendar you received last year with kittens in a red wagon...just sayin'!

Here are the rules:

In the "comments" section of this post, tell me about a holiday tradition you share with family {or friends}. It can be quirky and unique, it can be something particular to your country or home town, or it can just be simple and clever. Whatever it is, I want to know! Also, provide me with your e-mail address, so I can contact you if you win.
The contest ends in one week from today {Monday, Nov. 30} at midnight.
I will pick my favorite comment, and the contest winner will be announced on December 1st.

::If you're curious about Jen Hewitt's prints, check out her Etsy shop here.

*I look forward to reading your comments!

Cheers, Tara

xoxo

Have an "Ideal" Weekend!

2009-11-21T08:48:00.001-08:00

I came across this strange/adorable image over at Glorious Nonsense and just had to re-post it for you. Apparently those weird hybrid photoshop images of the "ideal" celebrity parts melded together is nothing new {you know, Angelina's lips, Beyonce's booty, and Jennifer's hair smooshed into one freakish hybrid celebrity}. Click the image for a larger view...

Speaking of "ideal," do you ever imagine what your ideal weekend would look like? Or, maybe all of your weekends are ideal {if so, lucky you!}. I am compiling a list of all the things my ideal weekend would entail, and I am going to try and make this happen...soon! My perfect weekend would include:

An orgasmically delicious meal from a fabulous restaurant.
A surprise bunch of pink peonies from my boyfriend.
Spending time with friends and my sisters {this must include lots of laughing and good wine}.
Shopping fortune: this entails finding an unexpected good deal on something I have been wanting {a fancy coffee maker, an art book, or a velvet dress would be good!}
Giving someone I love an unexpected gift and seeing them smile.
A lazy afternoon nap.
Dancing!

What about you? What would your ideal weekend include? You should work on making it happen, too!

Winter's Muse: Geraldine Chaplin

2009-11-19T06:25:00.000-08:00

Today's guest post comes courtesy of the brilliant and funny lady behind Loose Leaf Tigers -- a blog dedicated to girl crushes, great art, and gasp-worthy fashion finds...

Bonjour! It is such an honor for me to be guest posting here at Nothing Elegant; one of the most stylish, eclectic and intelligent blogs i have come across. I visit here almost every day, and so should you!

With winter fast approaching, i thought i'd take this opportunity to celebrate two fabulous actresses (Julie Christie and Geraldine Chaplin) from one of the most wintery films ever made: Dr. Zhivago (1965). Let's begin with the elegant and fascinating Geraldine Chaplin, eldest child of Charlie and Oona.

Geraldine made a brief appearance in one of her father's films when she was eight years old, but her dreams were of the ballet rather than acting and it was while dancing in Paris that she was discovered by David Lean, who chose her for the role of Tonya in Doctor Zhivago.

Throughout the 1970s, Geraldine appeared in several of Robert Altman's films, as well as nine movies directed by Carlos Saura, with whom she has a son named Shane. While filming Welcome to L.A. in 1976, Geraldine was required to do a nude scene. Although she was perfectly comfortable doing the scene herself, director Alan Rudolph feared the loss of financing if the producers fell into disfavor with her world famous father, by embarrassing him prior to his death.

As such, the scene became one of the first experiments with digital compositing, positioning Chaplin's head on the body of a former Penthouse pet (!). Geraldine performed the scene in a nude body-stocking and it took almost an entire month, using antiquated production equipment, to digitally merge Chaplin's head with the body double.

Some of my favourite of Geraldine's performances can be found in Altman's Nashville (1975) and Pedro Almadovar's Talk to Her (2002), one of many foreign films in which Chaplin, who speaks fluent Spanish as well as French, has starred. In 1982, Geraldine played her real life grandmother Hannah in Chaplin, starring Robert Downey Jr., a role for which she received a best supporting actress Golden Globe.

In 2006, she married Chilean cinematographer Patricio Castilla, with whom she has a daughter, Oona. Geraldine now calls Miami, Florida home, where she has a house on the beach. The humble actress has been quoted as saying: "I thought it'd be easy to get into the movies as Charles Chaplin's daughter. And I suppose it was. Except I wasn't much good as an actress - really terrible at the beginning."

If you'd care to read the companion piece to this entry, please come visit Loose Leaf Tigers and celebrate the life and career of Dr. Zhivago's other star, the incomparable Julie Christie...

::Thank you so much to Tara and her wonderful readers for having me! xo

Calling Cards.

2009-11-18T17:40:00.001-08:00

Do you use calling cards to promote your blog...or yourself? I have this nagging feeling that I should get calling cards, but I'm not even sure where to begin. Of course, the first place that came to mind was Etsy, and I do love this very simple, bold version by Modern Motive {I would get red type}. If you use cards, who do you give them to? When? Why? Wow, I'm just full of questions today, but self-promotion is rather new to me.

Any advice, my clever readers?

::By the way, I have a fantastic guest post from Heidi at Loose Leaf Tigers lined up for tomorrow...stay tuned!

Wet Plate Collodian Photographs

2009-11-17T09:07:00.000-08:00

{photos by Robert Szabo}

If you've travelled anywhere in the midwest or southern United States, you have inevitably come across one of those wonderfully kitschy old-time photo booths. On a summer vacation many years ago, my sisters and I had our photos taken dressed as Southern Belles. There is just something so fun about imagining yourself as you might have been in another time, don't you think? I like to imagine I would have been a woman who lived on the fringe of society: A hooker with a heart of gold? A rogue girl-pirate who stole from the rich and gave to the poor?

Robert Szabo is a contemporary photographer that takes the idea of the old-time photo booth to the next level. He is one of the few photographers in the world who produces wet-plate collodian prints using much the same process as was used during the 1800's. There is just something so uncannily authentic about his work, partly due to his eye for historical detail and nuance. Let's face it, the vintage iPhone camera apps and the Bakamatsu Koshashin Antique Photo Generator are awesome toys, but there is just no comparison. I will officially be removing one of my items from the "101 Things to do before I Die" list and replacing it with: having my photograph taken as a dead Victorian corpse by Robert Szabo...or maybe a circus performer...or an eccentric countess. I'll need to narrow it down.

::Also, check out the amazing photos Anna over at Wildflowers:Pretty had taken by Robert!

Design Finds: Vintage Tally Cards

2009-11-16T08:17:00.000-08:00

If you love vintage collectibles, but lack space and endless funds of money {like moi}, collecting paper ephemera can be an excellent option -- it's often reasonably priced and perfectly suited for framing and hanging. Over the years, I have collected vintage paint-by-numbers, postcards, and advertisements, to name a few.

I recently discovered the beauty of vintage tally cards -- these were popularly used for keeping score during Bridge parties and other social card games. Some of the designs are strikingly beautiful, particularly the ones from the early 20th century. I'm just imagining the interesting ways these could be put to decorating use: gift tags, Christmas tree ornaments, hung as wall displays, or simply framed...they would also be great for invitations, place cards, and party favors.

Etsy sellers Carmen and Ginger have an amazing selection; the art deco designs are particularly lust-worthy!

Weekend Links.

2009-11-13T06:54:00.000-08:00

I can't even believe how quickly this week has flown by! I've actually been quite productive this week and hope the momentum will continue. What are your weekend plans? My mom postponed her trip to this Saturday, so I will be spending some time with her. I also have another round of wine-tasting to look forward to -- this time, the theme is Australian and New Zealand wines. Any recommendations??

I thought I would post this amazing video for you -- I was listening to Portishead's album Third today in the car, and remembered this eerie video I came across some time ago: a four-minute version of the 1960 horror film Les Yeux sans Visage set to Portishead's song Hunter. Chillingly beautiful.

Enjoy your weekend and enjoy the links!

::Just in time for November's political shenanigans, check out this fantastic {and funny} collection of political signs over at Yes and Yes.

::Blood Milk's JL Schnabel celebrates her one-year anniversary with her husband, and posts pictures from their ceremony at Philadelphia's Mutter Museum...yes, they were married at a museum of medical oddities. Coolest. Wedding. Ever.

::Sheaff Ephemera -- This endlessly addictive site houses image collections of everything from "extreme typography" to "people holding fish."

::I don't personally own...or even like...velvet paintings. But they do hold a tender place in my heart due to the fact that my grandmother had a giant velvet Last Supper of Christ painting hanging over her dining table when I was growing up. Needless to say, I'm pretty sure grandma would appreciate the velvet paintings at Velveteria.

:: One of the things on my "101 Things to Do before I Die List" happens to be to live in a house or apartment with a chandelier. I can't even begin to dissect the psychology behind my obsession with shiny, dangly things, so I will just say that this NotCot post featuring some of the gorgeous chandeliers at Versailles has me working overtime trying to figure out how to meet this goal...

Beuys: Coyote Crazy

2009-11-12T10:33:00.000-08:00

{photo via FFFound}

I remember learning about Joseph Beuys in my contemporary art class in undergraduate. Beuys was a performance artist associated with the Fluxus movement in the 60's and 70's, and he did crazy stuff like locking himself in a room all day with a wild coyote, his only protection being a blanket and a wood cane. Sometimes the coyote would become aggressive...sometimes they just peacefully hung out. I remember thinking: OK, I can appreciate a lot of stuff, but this is just ridiculous...this is my limit of appreciation.

I have a degree in aesthetic studies now, and consider myself an art-lover with varied and broad tastes. But, I still cannot get past the idea of locking yourself in a room with a wild animal and expecting people to take you seriously. The one form of art I have never been able to come to terms with is performance art (*boo* *hiss* from the audience}. I just have this primitive, gut reaction to it: LAUGHTER. I had a colleague when I worked in New York that always tried to get me accompany her to performance art shows, and I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I didn't want to make her feel bad or degrade what she liked by turning her down, but I also didn't want to go and mortify her by laughing so hard that I snorted the free wine up my nose. I'm quite glad I never went with her, because she told me on one occasion that a performer had stuck a light bulb up her hoo-ha. But, I digress.

My point is: Do you ever feel this about something -- that you're supposed to like it but you just can't? What do you do? Do you just laugh unapologetically, or do you try and force yourself into appreciation?? What are your limits?

Current Obsession: {Everything from} Nadinoo

2009-11-11T05:48:00.000-08:00

I have to thank Caroline over at Greedy Girl for my new obsession: Nadinoo. Seriously, peacock print blouses and fur-collared silk dresses!? If I were a clothing designer, this is what I would create: pretty, vintage-inspired, decadent perfection!

An Okie Expedition: Bartlesville

2009-11-10T12:32:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share some photos from our little getaway to Bartlesville...

Oh, Oklahoma. I might complain about you a bit now and again, but I love your quirkiness! Where else can you find beautiful mid-century architecture, roaming buffalo, taxidermy, and Native American art all in one place?

It still rather amazes me that Frank Lloyd Wright built his one and only skyscraper right on the open prairies of small-town Oklahoma. The building itself is like a giant copper entity from another planet -- covered in gorgeous green angular designs and strange layers and appendages jutting out in horizontal and vertical patterns. It's so unexpected against the flat horizon, yet it seems somehow at home there. Wright based the building off the design of a tree, as well as the tall repeating columns of buds on a prairie flower, and he hoped its organic yet modern shape would compliment and reflect the landscape...

It was built in the 1950's, and the interior slowly became run down over the years, but was recently remodeled for use as office and hotel spaces. My boyfriend and I stayed the night, and I have to say it was one of the more impressive hotel experiences I've had. The rooms themselves are spacious and modern, with long rows of ceiling-to-floor windows and copper accents on everything from the lighting fixtures to the bed posts. My boyfriend is a huge architecture buff, and he was blown away by Wright's seeming ability to create a space that was both sparse and modern, while still being warm, comfortable, and completely unique. Wright's vision was certainly a distinctive one: part futuristic, part organic, and part sheer personality!

While in Bartlesville, you HAVE to visit Woolaroc -- a sort of museum / meets nature reserve / meets reliquary of the Wild West. I grew up visiting Woolaroc in the summertime, and have vivid memories of the herds of buffalo roaming freely [and my grandfather explaining that they were once very endangered]. The fact that you can buy barbecue buffalo burgers at the food stand always confused me...though, admittedly, they are yummy!

The man behind the museum and preserve was Frank Phillips, an oil man from Oklahoma's early days of expansive oil production. He collected native American art and he also had a penchant for collecting exotic animals. At one time, there was everything from giraffes and peacocks to rhinos and bears roaming his acreages. He loved them so much, in fact, that after they died, he would have them stuffed and mounted! I think my obsession with taxidermy must have started as a child, seeing his old cabin filled with every species of bird and mammal, lovingly mounted and displayed. {And yes, that is me above left, being ridiculous...}.

The entrance of the museum features a sky blue entryway, covered in tile mosaic, and depicting native dances. This guy on the right is just plain creepy and awesome...my boyfriend and I decided he was something straight out of a horror movie...Oh, did I mention there were shrunken heads and a huge doll collection? I didn't get a good photo, but believe me, they are impressive!

::If you're ever passing through Oklahoma {I say rather jokingly}, I will take you on a tour!!

Modcloth: Winston the Pug

2009-11-04T16:15:00.000-08:00

There are some days when all you need is a cute picture of a pug wearing nerdy glasses to make you happy. Winston is Modcloth's sunglasses model -- he pretty much raises this already-awesome vintage/indie design shopping site to the next level for me. I'm thoroughly determined to arrange a meeting between my pug Gidget and the fetching, clever Winston...you know, just to see if there's any chemistry...

On another topic entirely, I'm going to be signing off for the rest of the week, which means I won't have my regular Friday post. I'm heading out for an overnight trip to stay at Frank Lloyd Wright's Price Tower, and then to Woolaroc {a quirky museum of sorts, filled with taxidermy and shrunken heads}. After that, my mom will be visiting from Texas, and I'll be hanging out with her. I will definitely try to get some good photos!

::I am going be taking some breaks here and there until December; my dissertation prospectus deadline is coming up in mid December, and I am going to need to simplify some of my obligations {though my blog is the most enjoyable "obligation" of all...damn}. I know you all totally understand, and I hope you'll stick with me despite the breaks in regular programming!

Have a stellar rest of the week,

xoxo

Tara

The List: 10 Beauty Products I Can Always Count On

2009-11-03T04:31:00.000-08:00

They say French women never give away their beauty secrets. Let's face it folks, no matter how much I might want to be, I am clearly not French! I love it when ladies divulge their beauty secrets, so I thought it was time to return the favor. It's all about give and take, right? I've tried A LOT of products {and been disappointed many times}, but these are the 10 skin, hair, and beauty products I keep going back to, because they actually work! What are the products you love, love, love?

Chanel Red #14 Lipstick: this has an absolutely gorgeous texture and is the perfect red shade for my pale-pinkish skin tone.
Olay Regenerist Micro Sculpting Cream -- I use this every night on my face and neck and always wake up dewey and uber-mousturized.
Clinique Mild Liquid Facial Soap -- cleans without stripping or overdrying.
Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara -- I apply about a million coats of this, but it never looks clumpy, and it never rubs off during the day.
Origins Modern Friction Natural Microdermabrasion -- I love that this is made with natural ingredients, but even more, I love that it works like magic. It makes my skin insanely soft and smooth!
Bare Minerals Foundation -- this is the only foundation I have found that keeps my oily skin under control, evens out my blotches, and looks truly natural.
Ojon Rub-Out Dry Cleanser -- smells lovely and helps extend the days between shampoos.
Brite Smile Whitening Pens -- I hate whitening strips, so these are a revelation! They are easy and quick to use and actually taste good.
Smashbox Photo Finish Face Primer -- I never understood the purpose of primer until I used this: my makeup goes on smoother, my skin stays fresh all day, and my pores are minimized.
Frederic Fekkai Anti-Breakage Hair Mask -- since I've been using this {about 3 times a week}, my hair has been softer, more manageable, and less tangly.

::Do you have any beauty secrets you'd like to share?

A Coat Lover's Guide to Saving Money and Looking Fabulous

2009-11-02T13:27:00.000-08:00

{Click on images for sources}

In case you missed it, I thought I would re-post my guest blogger post for Yes and Yes...

Most of us have at least one irresistible obsession, and mine happens to be outerwear. Not the naughtiest addiction ever, but it's an addiction nonetheless! I just can't seem to say no to a good trench, blazer, peacoat, military jacket, or swing coat. I'm inexplicably attracted to faux fur, rhinestone buttons, bell sleeves, and funnel necks. Yes, I've got a problem, but luckily I've learned to indulge my habit without breaking the bank! Over the years, I've realized that the best way to keep my coat compulsion satisfied is to stick to buying vintage.

Why I Buy Vintage:

From classic 50's swing coats to avant-garde 80's cocoon coats, there is a breathtaking array of styles and silhouettes available out there.
In my experience, the price for a great vintage coat is, on average, at least 50 percent less than a newer version...and in today's economy, that is saying a lot!
Vintage outerwear is often made with better materials and craftsmanship: just imagine how expensive a brand new coat made with thick wool or velvet, silk lining, glass buttons, and little details like brocade trim or rhinestones would cost at a department store.
I'm helping the environment by not contributing to waste! This is an added bonus to buying vintage -- why buy something new when there are already so many options available?

Of course buying vintage can be daunting: Where do I start? What about condition? And what about...that musty smell? Here are some of my tried-and-true tips...

Tips on Buying Vintage Coats:

Have a budget in mind and stick to it. I rarely spend over $60 for a coat, and for a jacket I keep it to around $15-$25. But the budget will depend on a variety of factors, like your area [vintage is more costly in bigger cities], as well as the material and age of the coat.
Ask questions! If you're buying from a thrift store, you're on your own, but if you're buying from a vintage dealer, get as much information about the coat as you can to help you make your decision.
Check for stains -- getting rid of stains on vintage fabric can be daunting and difficult. Unless the stain is on the lining where no one will notice, I usually shy away from the purchase.
Check the lining. Lining can be replaced, but sometimes changing the lining can cost as much as the coat itself -- just weight the cost/repair ratio before deciding {and if you are a masterful sewer, then you are good to go!}.
Check the smell -- because of the thicker fabric, vintage coats seem to hold a musty smell. This can often be removed with a simple dry-cleaning. Ask your dry cleaner for their advice if you have concerns about the fabric holding up. Dryel sheets are also a good, inexpensive way to get musty smells out of fabrics.
Check the details, like buttons, buckles, etc. Most things can be fixed or replaced, but you always want to be sure you are aware of the work you will need to put into it before buying.

{The Glamourai, in her altered vintage coat}

Now, if you're considering joining me in the race to become the Imelda Marcos of vintage coats, you have some catching up to do. Here are some excellent places to start...

Places to Start Your Own Vintage Outerwear Addiction:

:: Thrift stores! Some of my best vintage coat finds were at Goodwill and Salvation Army.
:: Vintage store and boutiques. While these will be a bit pricier, the quality is typically more consistent and the items will usually be cleaned and mended.
:: Estate sales -- if you're into waking up early and beating the crowds.
:: Ebay is the place to go for great deals without leaving the comfort of your sofa. Search by era, material, style, etc.
:: Etsy has a gorgeous selection...and superfriendly sellers. Just for a taste, check out Good Grace, Dear Golden, Cassie's Attic, Thrush, and Bad Girl Vintage.

Good luck and happy shopping!

Living Dead Girls.

2009-11-01T12:34:00.000-08:00

We live over 1,200 miles away from each other, but somehow my sister Lindsay and I ended up dressing in almost identical costumes this Halloween. Of course, because she is insanely artistic, her makeup turned out much more detailed and intricate than mine! Still, I loved my dia de los muertos costume...I think this was one of my favorites so far {that's me above!}.

...she looks like a tragic, macabre Flamenco dancer, doesn't she?

And for some reason, I feel very giddy about the new bar area I set up in my living room {for Halloween cocktails}, so I had to share it. I think the Mad Men mentality has finally taken over -- there is just something so old-school and inviting about a fully stocked bar. It seems to say: I can, at a moment's notice, have impromptu cocktails mixed for 20 people without breaking a sweat. Ok, I live in a fantasy world, just indulge me here...

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

{Image via Art Deco}

It's almost time! What are your plans for Halloween? Mine include:

A Thriller dance class with my girlfriends on Saturday. I'm really terrible at following choreography, so this should be hilarious.
Cocktails at my place -- I finally set up a small bar area in my apartment, and I'm excited to put it to use. Maybe we'll play a little Ouija board as well?
Dressing up as a Dia de los Muertos bride/zombie/skeleton {something like this}.
Party-hopping and looking for trouble...it's Halloween, you're supposed to be mischievous, right?
Scrounging up some Halloween candy, preferably mini Almond Joy, mini Butterfinger, and mini Snickers {because mini candy is more fun than regular sized candy somehow...}.

And remember:

"Softly cross your fingers at the Witching hour.

Over fates and fortunes, the moon will give you power!"

Current Obsession: Melissa Dixson, Taxidermist Extraordinaire

2009-10-29T06:18:00.000-07:00

According to Freud, the "uncanny" is "the class of frightening things that lead us back to the known and familiar." Taxidermy is a perfect example of the uncanny -- it appears alive, but is dead; it is familiar, yet completely unfamiliar. We want to touch it, but we are utterly repulsed...

I have always had a sincere admiration for people with very unusual and particular skills that takes years of practice and devotion to perfect: the profession of taxidermist definitely falls under that category. I recently discovered taxidermist Melissa Dixson's shop on Etsy...then her website...then her blog. Now I have an undeniable fascination with her work, albeit a somewhat uncomfortable one.

Interestingly, Dixson views her work as the ultimate form of re-cycling. She uses only furs that have come from licensed trappers and hunters {who help aid in population control and disease-prevention}. She is active in wildlife preservation and very much considers herself an animal lover.

Her work is oddly sweet -- she creates full-size taxidermy, using animals such as foxes, wolves, coyotes, and deer. She also makes dainty decorative items out of horns and tails.

I think Freud was right -- as an animal lover myself, I find something endearing and attractive about taxidermy, but it is this very affection for animals that also makes me want to instinctively take a step back out of fear. Why is it often the things that make us feel a bit conflicted that are the most intriguing??

::What are your thoughts on taxidermy and animal re-cycling??

Last Minute Costume Ideas: Great Ladies of History

2009-10-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

Still scrambling for a last-minute Halloween costume idea? Why not consider dressing up as one of the great ladies of history? Take some basics you already own, add a few key accessories, and voila -- a costume that would make your mom proud! Of course, you can always be the dead version of one of these spectacular ladies: Marie Curie, after being blown up by a science experiment...Coco Chanel, killed by one of her assistants with a pair of scissors?

Who: Marie Curie -- First Lady of science, physicist, chemist, and creator of the theory of radioactivity.
Why: Because you can carry your favorite beverage around in a beaker and tell everyone it's a dangerous radioactive element.
You already have: A loose black dress.
You need: Thick glasses, a clear beaker, and a discheveled top-knot.

Who: Emmeline Pankhurst -- political activist, and leader of the British suffrage movement.
Why: Because you're not into the whole slutty costume thing...and because you will be ready to protest at a moment's notice.
You already have: an oversized straw hat and a black blazer.
You need: a long black skirt, a sash with "Votes for Women" across it, pamphlets and/or a picket sign with political slogans, like "Deeds not Words" and "We demand the right to serve!"

Who: the incomparable Coco Chanel -- design ingenue, and fashion icon.
Why: because it gives you an excuse to pretend you're French for one night...and practice being snooty {she was said to be a VERY demanding woman}.
You already have: a knock-off Chanel tweed jacket, a pencil skirt, a white blouse.
You need: a strand of pearls, a chic vintage hat, a boxy little hand bag, and a certain je ne sais quois.

Who: Amelia Earhart -- the first aviatrix to fly across the Atlantic.
Why: Because any excuse to wear goggles and a flight hat is a very good thing!
You already have: a leather jacket, khakis, and equestrian-style boots.
You will need: a white scarf, goggles, and a flight hat.

Who: Frida Kahlo -- Mexican artist, surrealist, and style innovator.
Why: you get to fearlessly mix color and pattern, pile on the jewelry...and see what you look like with a mono-brow and mustache!
You already have: lots of chunky jewlery, a shawl or pashmina scarf, and a bright, colorful blouse.
You will need: flowers for your hair, a flowy peasant skirt, and brown eyeliner for facial hair enhancement.

::Have fun dressing up, my loves!!

At Every Occasion, I'll Be Ready for a Funeral: Pinkham Millinery

2009-10-27T05:49:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or have the millinery arts come back full-force in recent years? It's so fantastic to see so many talented, creative haberdashers making an impact in the fashion world {as well as in fringe fashion culture}. You really must check out the amazing graveyard procession for Pinkham Millinery's new collection over at Urban Weeds...and, for more information, here is their website.

::And yes, my posts will continue to be macabre until Halloween is over!

The List: Gothic Horror! Terrifying Tales! Scary Books!

2009-10-26T06:29:00.000-07:00

Halloween just wouldn't be the same without our classic tales of horror -- they've become so much a part of our collective concept of Halloween that some would say they are nothing more than tired clichés. But I respectfully disagree! Every time I read one of these works, I find something new and strange, something that taps into fears we might secretly harbor deep in our subconscious: fear of being driven to madness by guilt, fear of the unknown intruding upon our lives, fear of the past coming back to haunt us, or fear of children not being as innocent as they seem {I have this one, ha!}. If you're in the mood for a creepy read this week, here are a few of my dependable favorites:

Henry James' novella, "The Turn of the Screw" -- features really creepy kids!
Edgar Allen Poe's "Tell Tale Heart" or "The Fall of the House of Usher" -- he is the master of suspense.
Bram Stoker's Dracula -- this one is rife with terror: terror of foreigners, terror of sexuality, terror of modern technologies...
Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" -- one of my childhood favorites.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein -- people are still horrified at the notion of science creating a more powerful version of humankind.
Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" -- witches...scary. Puritan New England...even scarier!

How about you? Do you have any favorite scary reads? Any recommendations?

Weekend Links.

2009-10-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

Here I sit, a bit worse for wear and recovering from a rousing evening of chicken-dancing and hokey-pokey-ing! Oktoberfest started last night, and I'm lucky {or unlucky?} enough to live right next door to the festivities. After all of that beer and brat madness, I look forward to a low-key weekend. My boyfriend's parents are coming into town for a quick visit, so we're trying to think of yummy local restaurants to take them to...I hope they're not in the mood for German! I'm also looking forward to finally watching Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains -- a DVD that has been on my queue for ages. What are your weekend plans? Is Oktoberfest in full-force where you live??

Enjoy the links!

::Have you heard of the Museum of Everything? Outsider art is the focus of this fantastic new London museum.

::Super cute and vintage-y Holiday Cheat Sheets {free to download}.

::Bookshelf chairs on Oh, Joy! So freaking clever!

::B. Vikki Vintage shop and blog features advertising campaigns and fashion editorials from Black/African-American publications, video clips, found photographs, etc from the 1950s-1960s.

::I'm digging The X-X's new album! They are like New Order's sultrier, sweeter younger siblings. If you haven't had the pleasure yet, take a listen here and here.

::Mira Nair's new film Amelia {about the life of Amelia Earhart} is finally out! Three cheers for films about amazing women, directed by amazing women!

::Man Shops Globe is a new show on the Sundance channel about Keith Johnson -- the man who does the buying for Anthropologie stores. This is the kind of show that could persuade me to splurge on cable TV. Here is a lovely post on Poppy Talk about some of the artists featured on the show.

Strange Beauties: The Allure of the Unusual Leading Lady

2009-10-22T06:31:00.000-07:00

Today's guest post comes from the talented artist and blogger, J.L. Schnabel! I hope she doesn't mind me saying so, but I think that Ms. Schnabel might be a kindred spirit -- we both share a similar attraction to the surreal and strange...and we're both slightly obsessed with Halloween. Her blog, Blood Milk is a constant source of inspiration, and she has introduced me to so many new artists and designers. Oh, did I mention she also makes incredible jewelry...?

As a worshipper of the surreal & unusual, I often like my leading ladies to have a touch of the strange. My favorite "horror movies" feature the lovely les femmes noires: Christina Ricci and Winona Ryder, for their turns in Bettlejuice, Dracula, The Addams Family and Sleepy Hollow. What I love most about these characters is the way they each own their 'weirdness.' They live, unafraid and comfortable, on the fringe of their respective societies; whether as a vampire lover or secret witch, their identities are firm and poignant. While both actresses have been severely underrated, both in their beauty and talent, they are forever immortalized as the characters they have helped shaped my aesthetic and art...

Being closer to Christina Ricci's age, I worshipped her as Wednesday Addams. I lopped off my Barbie's head, trained myself to sleep with my arms folded over my chest like the dead and wore my raven hair in two braids for months. As the princess of doom and gloom she's often been the inspiration to weird girls and artists alike. She is rendered here in a portrait by the amazing David Stoupakis:

Ricci's turn as blonde and witchy Katrina Van Tassel allowed her to work her magick on steampunk clad Johnny Depp/Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow. One of my favorite details of the movie was the bird and cage optical illusion that Ichabod gives Katrina:

{Optical illusion spinner birdcage by The Social Cellar}

Although I didn't quite understand the full emotional depths of Dracula when I first saw it as a kid, it was the first time I remember being aware of Winona Ryder, who plays fated bride Mina Harker. At the heart of all the blood and vampire-hunting is a chilling love story. The exquisite costumes featured on the entire cast capture the detail and drama of Victorian life and elegance.

The decadence of Victorian style has been re-created in these lovely handmade hats by Etsy seller Topsy Turvy Design.

Bettlejuice is one of those films that has lingered and spilled over into several creative facets of my life. The dramatic and gloomy Lydia Deetz has a permanent rain cloud over her head until she meets a pair of unlikely ghosts. Even the cartoon series was great! Part of my wardrobe is inspired by the stripped patterns in the movie, which are easy to find in the vintage section of Etsy...

{Romper from Find MeVintage / Blouse from Etsy seller Marion kc}

What leading lady do you relate to most?

Happy Halloween!
x/x, jl schnabel x blood milk
::P.S. Please visit Bloodmilk to enter my October giveaway here!

Grown Up Games.

2009-10-21T08:29:00.000-07:00

Growing up in Oklahoma inevitably included many politically-incorrect games of cowboys and Indians. I always preferred to be the Indian, thank you! I'm sure this had something to do with my love for feathers...and my fear of guns. Anyhooo...these adorable handmade teepees by Gracie Bean Baby *really* need to come in grown-up sizes! Anyone up for a game of clever Indian girl helps lost, hungry cowboy who can't seem to find his way out of the woods??

Bright Star: John Keats

2009-10-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

{This painting by Frank Cadogan Cowper is based on the poem La Belle Dame Sans Merci by John Keats}

My excitement about the upcoming film Bright Star is twofold: first, it was directed by Jane Campion, who is arguably one of the most talented filmmakers of our time {her other films -- The Piano, Portrait of a Lady -- are some of my favorites}; also, it is about the life and love of poet John Keats...who I have to blame/thank for my terrible romantic streak.

I discovered my love for poetry -- and for Keats -- when I was around twelve years old. As a gift, I received a copy of Penhaligon's beautifully-scented Language of Flowers book, which was filled with late Romantic and early Victorian poetry. I spent an unhealthy amount of time reading, memorizing {and sniffing!} that treasured little volume. The Keats poems were always my favorites -- they seemed to perfectly resonate with my vague, incomprehensible girlish longings {probably hormones in retrospect}. Some of my favorite Keats poems included: "Ode to a Nightingale," "La Belle Dame Sans Merci," and "When I Have Fears that I May Cease to Be." I love his poems because they teeter on the edge between despondent and utterly transcendent.

If you haven't read him in a while, or if you've never had the pleasure of reading him, he's worth falling in love with. You can find his collected works online here. I'll leave you with another favorite...any ideas on the strange final line?

"Modern Love"

AND what is love? It is a doll dress'd up
For idleness to cosset, nurse, and dandle;
A thing of soft misnomers, so divine
That silly youth doth think to make itself
Divine by loving, and so goes on
Yawning and doting a whole summer long,
Till Miss's comb is made a pearl tiara,
And common Wellingtons turn Romeo boots;
Then Cleopatra lives at number seven,
And Antony resides in Brunswick Square.
Fools! if some passions high have warm'd the world,
If Queens and Soldiers have play'd deep for hearts,
It is no reason why such agonies
Should be more common than the growth of weeds.
Fools! make me whole again that weighty pearl
The Queen of Egypt melted, and I'll say
That ye may love in spite of beaver hats.

Everyday Inspiration: Lonny Magazine

2009-10-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

There might be some relief for those of us looking for a publication to replace the sadly deceased Domino Magazine. Lonny Magazine is a new online magazine filled with gardening, decorating, entertaining, and antiquing tips. I'm still coming to terms with the idea of looking at a "magazine" on my computer screen...but it does seem inevitible that this is the direction things are going...doesn't it?

Current Obsession: Jane Aldridge/Sea of Shoes for Urban Outfitters

2009-10-19T07:17:00.001-07:00

::Have you been over to Urban Outfitters to drool over the new Jane Aldridge shoe collection {Jane is the brains behind the highly addictive Sea of Shoes blog}? This beauty above literally took my breathe away...considering I'm a self-professed shoe fanatic, that actually doesn't happen too often. A two-tone lace-up wedge with a Victorian vibe? Perfection. Wearable, gorgeous, and relatively well-priced? Yes please.

Back from Eureka Springs.

2009-10-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

::Here are some snapshots of my weekend trip to Eureka Springs. Downtown Eureka Springs has such Victorian charm! Some people find the town a bit creepy...locals believe the town is bustling with paranormal activity. The theory is that because the town is surrounded by limestone {and many of the buildings are also built from limestone} the town acts as a spirit-conductor. Paranormal researchers assert that limestone is a magnet for ghosts...

::This is an old Catholic church on the grounds of our Hotel, The Crescent {which was built around the 1880's}. There was a kitty wandering through the little church graveyard, which I thought was an appropriate motif for our haunted getaway...

::I'm just a sucker for flowers...I can't help taking pictures of them. These were taken on the church grounds.

::Views from the grounds of the Crescent Hotel. The hotel itself is up on a hill. During the early 1800's, the hotel was converted into a girl's school. One of the main ghosts who wanders the halls is supposed to be the spirit of a girl who jumped {or was pushed} from the top floor of the building. Some people say they have heard her falling to her death outside their window!

::More views from the grounds... In the 1930's the hotel was bought by "Dr." Baker -- a quack cancer doctor who practiced horrendous medical experiments on his patients. Hundreds of people are reported to have died inside The Crescent. Bones were even found buried in the basement floor, walls, and on the grounds itself.

::Some eerie decor inside the hotel.

:I love the entrance...the bronze crescent is so striking!

::The locker on the left is located in the basement of the Crescent hotel {which was a morgue during the 30's}. This is the exact location where TAPS and the Ghost Hunters team captured a full-body spirit entity! No such luck for me...On the right is the old staircase -- see the ghostly orb floating on the left?? Is it dust...or a ghost??.

::Eureka Springs is bustling during the fall -- everyone comes for the ghost and cemetary tours!

::The leaves were turning, and it was so serene. On the right is a dilapidated staircase that leads deep down inside Onyx cave, which is located on the outskirts of Eureka Springs. We decided to check out the cave on our way out of town. It was the first self-guided tour of a cave that I have ever taken...it was just me, my boyfriend, and a few bats hiding out in there -- creepy but fantastic!

**We had such a lovely time, and I'm feeling very refreshed from the trip {and from the massage and body wrap I treated myself to!}. I hope you all had a refreshing weekend yourselves...

Weekend Links

2009-10-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

I'm posting this a bit early, because as you read this, I am probably already in Eureka Springs on my little getaway {maybe if you're lucky I will have some ghost photos to share!}. When I return, the rest of my weekend will be spent catching up on the research and writing that I won't get done while I'm away having fun...that's always how it works, isn't it?? I also plan to start back on my exercise regime this weekend. Unfortunately my horrible cold prevented me from doing much over the past two weeks, and I feel terribly lazy now! It all seems much more difficult in the winter months -- do you have any suggestions for winter workouts? I really hate to be outside in the cold!! Well, here's to a snuggly weekend indoors {if you happen to be in the western hemisphere}...and some links to browse:

::Book Lovers Never Go to Bed Alone showcases the book collections and displays of real people -- submit your own!

::A new book to commemorate the re-opening of Deyrolle...and an update on the renovations of this historical cabinet of wonders in Paris {which suffered from a tragic fire in 2008}.

::If you're an Okie, here are some local projects worth knowing about: get the low-down on Tulsa's stunning array of mid-century modern architecture at Modern Tulsa; check out this local sweets-maker's quest {from Antoinette's Bakery Co.} to make a different Macaron every week at The Velvet Macaron; and get to know local design talent Tony Li of the Tony Li Project.

::Two gorgeous new design blogs worth checking out: Style/Swoon and Indecorous Taste.

::Find the winter hat of your dreams at Artikal.

::I'm obsessed with British chanteuse Florence and the Machine right now -- check out two of her videos here and here!

Have a fantastic weekend, my pretty peaches!!

How to Buy the Perfect Vintage Coat

2009-10-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

::If you've got a few spare minutes, pop over to Yes and Yes for my guest post on saving money and looking fabulous in vintage coats. Enjoy!

Barbara Hulanicki Wallpaper.

2009-10-15T06:10:00.000-07:00

If I didn't live in a cookie-cutter apartment with very strict rules against painting or altering the walls in dramatic ways, I would plaster every room with flowery, psychedelic wallpaper perfectly fit for hysterical visions ala Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper." The Barbara Hulanicki wallpaper collection at Graham and Brown would be an apt place to start. Hulanicki, who came to fame during the swinging sixties with her popular London boutique, Biba, draws from the dark Art Nouveau vibe that made Biba so distinctive. Her wallpaper designs are the perfect mix of the 1890's and the 1960's -- organic and eccentric, modern and playful.

Current Obsession: Velvet

2009-10-14T10:37:00.000-07:00

The last item of velvet clothing that I donned in public was probably the red velvet Christmas dress I wore in the 2nd grade. Velvet seems like the perfect Victorian-Goes-Goth fabric, and knowing my penchant for such things, I'm not sure why I've shied away from it all these years. I believe I need to make some amends! Topshop has a crazy-amazing selection of velvet goodies right now. Just in time for a Christmas party, naturally!

::Velvet corsage grab bag / Velvet and lace tunic / Velvet boyfriend blazer /Russian Velvet jacket.