31ST AUGUST 2010 ♥

Army of Salvation...

I dropped into my local Salvation Army store and stumbled across this gem of a knightly necklace, which I picked up for $3!







I love the sword detailing, medieval cross and medium-long chain. I am either going to feel like a bishop or Joan d'Arc wearing this one!



Joan of Arc by Philippe-Alexandre Le Brun de Charmettes (L'Orleanide - 1821).

- C x

26TH AUGUST 2010 ♥

From Russia with colour...

On my late night trawlings of our friend the internet, I came across these absolutely incredible pictures, taken exactly a century ago in Russia and surrounding areas. The photographer was Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii (1863-1944); according to the article he "used a specialised camera to capture three black and white images in fairly quick succession, using red, green and blue filters, allowing them to later be recombined and projected with filtered lanterns to show near true color images."

It's so hard to believe how real everything appears - the colours, the people, the buildings, the same trees and grass we are all familiar with. I feel as though the high quality images of these 1910 people would not be out of place on The Sartorialist today - the rich, deep colours of their fabrics, intricate gold and red trimming, detailled floral patterns, simple head scarves, and most of all their emotive expressions which make me want to know their stories.

Here are a few of my favourites, but please follow the link to Boston.com to see the full set along with detailed captions and more information. I promise your mind will be warped! These were honestly taken in 1910!











All photography by Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/08/russia_in_color_a_century_ago.html?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed1_HP

- C x

19TH AUGUST 2010 ♥

Pink hair > pre-essay blues!

I have a mammoth essay due tomorrow which I haven't started, oops, but why start now when I have better things to do? I thought I would tell you about the time I opened an issue of Vogue Australia to see the beautiful face of my favourite model Abbey Lee Kershaw, looking like this:

This was in about March 2010 - a gorgeous surfy time for fashion, and I fell in love. Some bleach mix and this "Raspberry Beret" Fudge Box dye later, the ends of my hair looked something similar:

I loved the effect, it added a splash of bright colour to any dark outfit and looked better and better as it gradually washed out. I would have repeated the process, but to my dismay a month or so later I saw a window full of Sportsgirl mannequins sporting the same trend which I felt was too much! Maybe again this summer, to make my days at the beach a little bit pretty in pink. :)

- C x

16TH AUGUST 2010 ♥

"Personally, I always preferred Liptons."

A few weeks ago, my scriptwriting tutor showed us this film version of a play by Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, simply entitled "Play". I stumbled across it in my notes again today and thought I'd share. Alan Rickman (aka The Voice), Emma Thompson and Kristen Scott-Thomas play three characters involved in a relationship and an affair. We watch as they spit out their words so fast you have to get used to their speed before you realise what they're actually talking about!

Although the overall play is unique with interesting dialogue, it was the make up that enthralled me most. All three faces have been decorated in different areas with crusted materials, and painted entirely in grey-ish blue tones with silver hair and lips. The crusty elements on the skin make the characters appear quite gruesome and crustacean-like. The make up is enhanced by the creative smoky set design, and the close camera angles highlight the cross hatches of wrinkles through the dried paint underneath their bright eyes. Enjoy! Part 2 is below if you want more (worth the click for Alan Rickman's voice!)

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EkI1KS3uRA

- C x

15TH AUGUST 2010 ♥

Velly velvet.

There's something magical about that moment when you type a word of your present liking into ebay, and something beautiful of that nature costing $1.20 is ending in fifteen minutes. Today, that word was 'velvet'!

I bought the following two identical vintage Miss Shop maxi dresses, a day after proclaiming 'maxi dresses are dead!' to my sister. Both velvet, one in black and one in raspberry! Ended up being about $10 each. Ebay, I will never cease to worship you!

These will be a challenge to figure out how to style - I am thinking maybe black or nude heels, but don't know whether a blazer, bolero or long jacket would be best. I've been looking for something velvet yet not too fortune-teller-chic for ages, can't wait to receive these babies! I'll be sure to post pictures when I get them. :)

- C x

14TH AUGUST 2010 ♥


Cecilia, you're breaking my heart!

My name is not Cecilia... but it sounds pretty, and features in one of my favourite songs by one of my favourite bands (see video below).

I get inspired by a lot of wonderful things but often don't think much more of them - but I'd like to, so hopefully will record and remember things here! I'm a 21 year old student who 'digs' fashion (vintage, designer, indie, anything), costume design, art, photography, music, film and anything that makes life that little bit more exciting.

- C x