Tuesday, December 20, 2011
happy holidays, from km
Dear Santa,
Bring me a puppy. I won't even ask for Cristiano Ronaldo like I did last year, because you didn't deliver. Not even the tiniest bit.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
night to day: the sequin mini skirt
Ahhh, the sequin skirt. Usually relegated to night time outfits (and associated with cheap clubs and grubby dive bars, especially), I think its powers as a daytime option has been severely underestimated. I'm always game for finding new ways to wear dubious pieces, so I embraced the challenge of finding a socially acceptable way to wear a garment sought by attention seeking women and drag queens. (I could easily fit into either of these categories, by the way, on a good night.)
Forever 21 sequin bandage skirt, Madewell fisherman crew sweater, Tommy Hilfiger canvas jacket (similar here), Balenciaga cut out boots (similar here, here or here)
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Forever 21 sequin bandage skirt, Madewell fisherman crew sweater, Tommy Hilfiger canvas jacket (similar here), Balenciaga cut out boots (similar here, here or here)
Sunday, December 11, 2011
it's a wrap
The only pair of boots I need this winter. Lucked out on them at the Jeffrey Atlanta sale this weekend.
Thakoon chunky heel ankle boots
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
the high museum: picasso to warhol
After a month of talking, Lillie and I finally made our way to the Picasso to Warhol exhibit at the High Museum. We made the fatal mistake of going on free Saturday, the first Saturday of every month, where Bank of America cardholders and Fulton County residents receive free admission. The permanent exhibits were fairly empty, but I could barely get a shot of the Picasso to Warhol exhibit. It was excellently curated with pieces you'd never seen in ATL from artists like Mondrian, de Chirico, and Miro.
My favorite section was the third floor of the Wieland wing, which features contemporary art pieces that are part of the High's permanent collection as well as some from the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) - Georgia.
Wearing: Chloe Sevigny x Opening Ceremony cropped sweater (similar here), Alexander Wang pleated tulle jumper, furfur velvet capelet (alternative), Burberry Prorsum loafers (similar from same brand), Celine luggage tote
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My favorite section was the third floor of the Wieland wing, which features contemporary art pieces that are part of the High's permanent collection as well as some from the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) - Georgia.
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| "Bright Star (Sirius)" by Spencer Finch |
Wearing: Chloe Sevigny x Opening Ceremony cropped sweater (similar here), Alexander Wang pleated tulle jumper, furfur velvet capelet (alternative), Burberry Prorsum loafers (similar from same brand), Celine luggage tote
Sunday, December 4, 2011
brunch at empire state south
I've had dinner at Empire State South, but Lola suggested going there for brunch on Saturday after hearing her coworkers rave about it. I'm not a huge fan of ESS. I've eaten at Hugh Acheson's restaurant in Athens, Five and Ten, but the memory of my dining experience was trumped by the shock of seeing a professor there with his family. (At that time, I was naive enough to believe that professors existed only within the confines of the university campus.)
This time, we were seated inside, where I got to finally enjoy the vintage blue/black decor. I ordered the ESS Hash, while my brunchmates had some type of cheese/bread plate, grits, granola and yogurt, and bread with pimento cheese. The hash was good, but I couldn't decide if it merited the $15 price tag. The pimento cheese was amazing, as were the grits. The pastries looked delicious, though we didn't sample them. And as always, the coffee was impeccable.
The brunch menu isn't extensive and could use some expansion. At the moment, there isn't anything that's offered to vegetarians, and there's got to be something more substantial between the heavy plates and the starters offered. But then again, considering that its located on the first floor of an office building, I suppose most of their daily customers aren't really the dine-in types.
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This time, we were seated inside, where I got to finally enjoy the vintage blue/black decor. I ordered the ESS Hash, while my brunchmates had some type of cheese/bread plate, grits, granola and yogurt, and bread with pimento cheese. The hash was good, but I couldn't decide if it merited the $15 price tag. The pimento cheese was amazing, as were the grits. The pastries looked delicious, though we didn't sample them. And as always, the coffee was impeccable.
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| ESS Hash |
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| Hugh's Breakie |
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| Pimento Cheese w/ Bacon Marmalade |
The brunch menu isn't extensive and could use some expansion. At the moment, there isn't anything that's offered to vegetarians, and there's got to be something more substantial between the heavy plates and the starters offered. But then again, considering that its located on the first floor of an office building, I suppose most of their daily customers aren't really the dine-in types.
Friday, December 2, 2011
animal prints, remixed
I love graphic print tops with weird, slightly horrifying animals. My obsession started with Christopher Kane's collaboration with Topshop in 2009, and my favorite emerging designer, Leila Shams, is a whiz when it comes to prints. But how do you make something so bold acceptable as daywear?
Worn over a crisp button down with tailored black pants and a matching jacket, you've got a conservative overall look with a pop of spectacular peeking out from under the formality. Depending on the event, pair with a pair of power heels or avant garde booties, and you're ready for a power lunch - or if you're me, to Food Truck Thursday on 12th & Peachtree.
I fell in love with the Darn Churrasco from the Ibiza Bites truck. If you catch this truck wandering around Atlanta, order this dish! Steak with a cilantro sauce on a bed of rice, corn, mushrooms, and topped with two plantains - this was so delicious I barely had time to wipe my mouth before providing a sound byte to a camera crew. I'm going to be on public television! (I can finally cross that off my bucket list.)
Uniqlo button down shirt, Christopher Kane x Topshop alligator tee, Topshop leather trim pants, Express cropped jacket, Balenciaga FW08 space booties, Celine luggage tote
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Worn over a crisp button down with tailored black pants and a matching jacket, you've got a conservative overall look with a pop of spectacular peeking out from under the formality. Depending on the event, pair with a pair of power heels or avant garde booties, and you're ready for a power lunch - or if you're me, to Food Truck Thursday on 12th & Peachtree.
I fell in love with the Darn Churrasco from the Ibiza Bites truck. If you catch this truck wandering around Atlanta, order this dish! Steak with a cilantro sauce on a bed of rice, corn, mushrooms, and topped with two plantains - this was so delicious I barely had time to wipe my mouth before providing a sound byte to a camera crew. I'm going to be on public television! (I can finally cross that off my bucket list.)
Uniqlo button down shirt, Christopher Kane x Topshop alligator tee, Topshop leather trim pants, Express cropped jacket, Balenciaga FW08 space booties, Celine luggage tote
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Tuesday, November 29, 2011
style inspiration: taylor tomasi hill
images from: The Sartorialist, Northern Light, and Stockholm Streetstyle
Who: Taylor Tomasi Hill
What: Accessories Director, Marie Claire magazine
Fashion M.O.: mixing prints, bold colors, avant garde designers, bold accessories
Fave designers: Dries Van Noten, Comme des Garcons, Balenciaga
The High-Low Mix
J. Crew fisherman sweater, Topshop velvet midi skirt, Dries van Noten boots, Adam leather jacket, Vince Camuto pyramid stud bracelet, Alex & Chloe cross wrap bracelet, Phillip Lim Pashli clutch
Sunday, November 27, 2011
recipes: blueberry scones
While they're called biscuits in the south, the Anglophile in me insists on calling them scones. Eating scones propels me back to my study abroad days in Oxford, where the sun would set at 4 p.m., leaving me and my Georgia-based housemates confused and suddenly melancholy. My favorite snobby intellectual, Tom, and I would meet after our tutorials in various cafes for tea time just as the sun would set on that picturesque, Gothic city partly because it was too early for dinner and an odd time to start drinking. So when I found this recipe from my favorite cookbook, Breakfast Lunch Tea (from Rose Bakery), I knew it was a great way to use up the almost fuzzy blueberries in my fridge.
Ingredients (Makes 12-15 scones)
Preheat the oven to 400F and grease a baking tray with butter. Sift the plain flour into a bowl and add the wheatgerm or wholewheat flour, if using.
Mix in the baking powder, brown sugar, and salt, then add the butter and rub in with your fingers until the mixture resembles fresh breadcrumbs.
Mix in the lemon or orange zest. Add the blueberries and mix well.
Beat one of the eggs in a measuring jug, then add enough milk to reach 1 1/4 cup level. Make a well into the middle, pour in the liquid and use a fork to work it into the dry ingredients. Finish by hand but without overworking the mixture - just lightly bring everything together to form a softish but firm dough. If it is too dry, add a little more milk. If it is too wet, add some more flour. It must not be sticky at all. On a lightly floured surface, pat or roll the dough into a solid shape about 1 1/4 inches thick.
Using a 2 inch cutter, cut the dough into rounds and place them on the greased baking tray so that they almost touch. Beat the remaining egg and use it to glaze the tops of the scones. Sprinkle with light brown sugar and bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly golden. The scones will stick together, so take them gently apart when they have cooled a little.
Ingredients (Makes 12-15 scones)
- 3 1/3 cups plain flour, plus extra for dusting
- 1 handful wheatgerm or wholewheat flour (optional)
- 2 very heaped tablespoons of baking powder
- 2 heaped tablespoons of brown sugar (I usually add 3-4 because I like my scones sweet)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- grated zest of 1 lemon or orange
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus extra for greasing
- 2 handfuls of blueberries (adjust according to your preference)
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/4 cups soy milk
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 2 inch round cutter
Preheat the oven to 400F and grease a baking tray with butter. Sift the plain flour into a bowl and add the wheatgerm or wholewheat flour, if using.
Mix in the baking powder, brown sugar, and salt, then add the butter and rub in with your fingers until the mixture resembles fresh breadcrumbs.
Mix in the lemon or orange zest. Add the blueberries and mix well.
Beat one of the eggs in a measuring jug, then add enough milk to reach 1 1/4 cup level. Make a well into the middle, pour in the liquid and use a fork to work it into the dry ingredients. Finish by hand but without overworking the mixture - just lightly bring everything together to form a softish but firm dough. If it is too dry, add a little more milk. If it is too wet, add some more flour. It must not be sticky at all. On a lightly floured surface, pat or roll the dough into a solid shape about 1 1/4 inches thick.
Using a 2 inch cutter, cut the dough into rounds and place them on the greased baking tray so that they almost touch. Beat the remaining egg and use it to glaze the tops of the scones. Sprinkle with light brown sugar and bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly golden. The scones will stick together, so take them gently apart when they have cooled a little.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
dressing for black friday
Waking up at 4am in hopes of being able to purchase a 42" flat screen TV for $200 calls for some serious planning. You want an outfit you can throw on with eye boogers still in your eyelashes, yet comfortable enough to take on a middle aged woman in a tug of war for the doorbuster cashmere sweater. While most of my Black Friday shopping this year entails sitting in front of a computer at midnight and clicking like a neurotic on an upper, here's what I plan on wearing to the outlets later today.
T by Alexander Wang tee - super soft and slouchy that you can wear it to bed.
T by Alexander Wang ruched skirt - comfortable and fitted so you'll be able to snag the offhand hottie who was dragged out to the malls by his mom to carry shopping bags
Balenciaga cut out boots (similar here) - to protect foot tramplers and also as a potential weapon if needed
BCBG jersey jacket (similar here) - warm with pockets for your phone and cards
Notice that I don't have a bag. Why? Because you need both of your hands - one to battle and one to snatch. Also, be prepared to run. You never know who else might be as crazy as you.
T by Alexander Wang tee - super soft and slouchy that you can wear it to bed.
T by Alexander Wang ruched skirt - comfortable and fitted so you'll be able to snag the offhand hottie who was dragged out to the malls by his mom to carry shopping bags
Balenciaga cut out boots (similar here) - to protect foot tramplers and also as a potential weapon if needed
BCBG jersey jacket (similar here) - warm with pockets for your phone and cards
Notice that I don't have a bag. Why? Because you need both of your hands - one to battle and one to snatch. Also, be prepared to run. You never know who else might be as crazy as you.
giving thanks
A few things I'm thankful for:
1. Not being a victim of theft this year. Last year, I lost a giant plastic tub of clothes while I was moving into my Decatur apartment. While nothing expensive (aside from my favorite Alexander Wang infinity scarf) was lost, my entire arsenal of "going out" clothes disappeared. Sequins, tulle, and black tops have yet to be replenished, and maybe that's a good thing.
2. Remembering to get my HPV vaccination before my insurance refused to pay for it. The cut off age for the most effective cervical cancer prevention is 26. The rules may vary by providers, but Blue Choice Blue Shield (GA) requires that you receive all three shots before your 27th birthday. I barely make the deadline. If you haven't been vaccinated, make it a priority on your list! Even if you don't have insurance, you should consider getting the shots as the benefits definitely outweigh the initial cost. You can find more information about the vaccine here.
3. Keeping my sanity this year. I have yet to jump out of a moving vehicle, disappear into the night, and ditch my friends. I haven't burned any bridges this year, either, which is turning out to be an important part of entering your late 20s. Friends are harder to come by now that you're no longer in an enclosed environment where everyone around you comes from a similar background.
4. The rise of political awareness and activism in the United States by a group that isn't the Tea Party. Also, I'm pleased that my generation is putting aside their apathy and using our tech savvy knowledge to communicate something more than "in the shower" or "eating."
5. I'm extremely thankful that the major surgery I had last year has healed well. For someone who has never broken a bone, undergoing maxillofacial surgery was the most traumatic experience of my life. This time last year, I was still extremely swollen and wondering if I would ever retain feeling in parts of my mouth. A year and some months later, I'm so grateful to my surgeon and my orthodontist for taking such good care of me last year. I've also got to send a shout out to all my friends who messaged me and Skyped with me while I was in Korea. I don't know what I would've done without your support. I couldn't have asked for a better team.
Of course I could continue this list forever, but for the sake of brevity, I'll leave off here and open the floor to you. What are some of the things you are thankful for? Please don't hesitate to show off your wit or sarcasm. I live for that.
photo credits: Boston Big Picture
1. Not being a victim of theft this year. Last year, I lost a giant plastic tub of clothes while I was moving into my Decatur apartment. While nothing expensive (aside from my favorite Alexander Wang infinity scarf) was lost, my entire arsenal of "going out" clothes disappeared. Sequins, tulle, and black tops have yet to be replenished, and maybe that's a good thing.
2. Remembering to get my HPV vaccination before my insurance refused to pay for it. The cut off age for the most effective cervical cancer prevention is 26. The rules may vary by providers, but Blue Choice Blue Shield (GA) requires that you receive all three shots before your 27th birthday. I barely make the deadline. If you haven't been vaccinated, make it a priority on your list! Even if you don't have insurance, you should consider getting the shots as the benefits definitely outweigh the initial cost. You can find more information about the vaccine here.
3. Keeping my sanity this year. I have yet to jump out of a moving vehicle, disappear into the night, and ditch my friends. I haven't burned any bridges this year, either, which is turning out to be an important part of entering your late 20s. Friends are harder to come by now that you're no longer in an enclosed environment where everyone around you comes from a similar background.
4. The rise of political awareness and activism in the United States by a group that isn't the Tea Party. Also, I'm pleased that my generation is putting aside their apathy and using our tech savvy knowledge to communicate something more than "in the shower" or "eating."
5. I'm extremely thankful that the major surgery I had last year has healed well. For someone who has never broken a bone, undergoing maxillofacial surgery was the most traumatic experience of my life. This time last year, I was still extremely swollen and wondering if I would ever retain feeling in parts of my mouth. A year and some months later, I'm so grateful to my surgeon and my orthodontist for taking such good care of me last year. I've also got to send a shout out to all my friends who messaged me and Skyped with me while I was in Korea. I don't know what I would've done without your support. I couldn't have asked for a better team.
Of course I could continue this list forever, but for the sake of brevity, I'll leave off here and open the floor to you. What are some of the things you are thankful for? Please don't hesitate to show off your wit or sarcasm. I live for that.
photo credits: Boston Big Picture
Monday, November 21, 2011
how to get in a k-pop music video
Apparently, my post on dressing like a K-pop boy band member gets more hits than any other post (except for my Bonnaroo survival guide, which is kinda crap), so I decided to ride the popularity wave and give a few pointers on how to get in one of those neon-crazed, seizure inducing, faux club videos.
1. Join a Korean girl group. Not only will you be in the video, you will be featured in the song. You will have a riff where you belt out a few "whoo" and "yeah" sounds in between grammatically incorrect Engrish.
2. Look like a CF model. According to the NY Times, there are lots of options for plastic surgery in southern Seoul (read: Apgujeong). If going under the knife isn't something that interests you, dress like a hipster bag lady. (Channel Kreayshawn. And maybe Ke$ha.) You've got to stand out for being really (generically) pretty or so fugly that you're interesting.
3. Be white. But this only works if you look Russian. No American white girls. They want the tall model types with super white skin. If you have a tan, you don't have a chance. If you're black, you don't have a chance. No Latinos either. Don't be sad - typical Korean girls don't have a chance to pretend to party with G-Dragon and T.O.P. either.
4. Become friendly with anyone who works in the industry. Producers, writers, music video directors, set designers, stylists, cameramen - there are an infinite number of people with access to the set. All you have to do is befriend one with your beguiling charms, and MAGIK! You are pumping your fist in the air for two hours with 2PM.
5. Sneak onto the set. Only works if you have excellent sleuthing skills. Also, being a ninja helps.
photos: screencapped by yours truly from Youtube (Big Bang "High High", 2PM "Hands Up"), google images
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1. Join a Korean girl group. Not only will you be in the video, you will be featured in the song. You will have a riff where you belt out a few "whoo" and "yeah" sounds in between grammatically incorrect Engrish.
2. Look like a CF model. According to the NY Times, there are lots of options for plastic surgery in southern Seoul (read: Apgujeong). If going under the knife isn't something that interests you, dress like a hipster bag lady. (Channel Kreayshawn. And maybe Ke$ha.) You've got to stand out for being really (generically) pretty or so fugly that you're interesting.
3. Be white. But this only works if you look Russian. No American white girls. They want the tall model types with super white skin. If you have a tan, you don't have a chance. If you're black, you don't have a chance. No Latinos either. Don't be sad - typical Korean girls don't have a chance to pretend to party with G-Dragon and T.O.P. either.
4. Become friendly with anyone who works in the industry. Producers, writers, music video directors, set designers, stylists, cameramen - there are an infinite number of people with access to the set. All you have to do is befriend one with your beguiling charms, and MAGIK! You are pumping your fist in the air for two hours with 2PM.
5. Sneak onto the set. Only works if you have excellent sleuthing skills. Also, being a ninja helps.
photos: screencapped by yours truly from Youtube (Big Bang "High High", 2PM "Hands Up"), google images
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Sunday, November 20, 2011
brief update
Do you feel like there are two parts of you? Your "real-life" presence and your online personality? For the past few months, I've been really cultivating my online profile and spending less time and energy on my real world self.
A few tidbits I've learned in the past few weeks:
1. There are a LOT of rats in NYC. I was sitting outside the Shake Shack at night and saw no less than five mice scurrying around the bushes. I suppose that area is prime picking for fallen fries and pieces of burger. Maybe even a lick of that strawberry shake. Note to self: don't live near the Flatiron district, no matter how appealing it may seem. Those rats gotta go somewhere when it's cold, and I refuse to let their refuge be my house.
2. Dating sucks. I don't know if this needs any more explanation, but I'll expound a bit. What makes the process of dating (aside from forcing yourself to seem less insane than you really are) exhausting are the games. You're never sure of the rules, and they seem to vary by person.
3. Alexander Wang's T line is a godsend. I'm currently lounging around in a wrap skirt and pocket tee. That's right. I'm lounging in a SKIRT. That's how awesome this fabric is. Super soft and perfectly molded to your body - I'm a little upset that the only man who knows my body so well is gay... which brings me to my next point:
4. The world is unfair. You will get a giant pimple in the middle of your forehead before an important meeting that may break or make your career. Your car will break down, your heel will break off, and you will oversleep and walk in with wet, soggy hair and eyeshadow on your cheeks instead of blush. Just accept that you will never win. The universe always has the upper hand.
5. Facebook will only make you feel horrible. It's a constant reminder of how unglamorous/unfulfilled/unfocused you are. On the other hand, there is an offhand chance that you will see your high school hottie 70 pounds overweight and balding, which will make you feel a little bit better.
6. Don't underestimate the power of a perfume. A friend introduced me to Le Labo, and I made a pit stop where I picked up Ambrette 9 after one whiff. It's the perfect combination of floral and citrus notes, and I love the lingering effects after it mixes with my skin's natural oils. (I sound like a salesman.) It's a great way to say I love you... to yourself.
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A few tidbits I've learned in the past few weeks:
1. There are a LOT of rats in NYC. I was sitting outside the Shake Shack at night and saw no less than five mice scurrying around the bushes. I suppose that area is prime picking for fallen fries and pieces of burger. Maybe even a lick of that strawberry shake. Note to self: don't live near the Flatiron district, no matter how appealing it may seem. Those rats gotta go somewhere when it's cold, and I refuse to let their refuge be my house.
2. Dating sucks. I don't know if this needs any more explanation, but I'll expound a bit. What makes the process of dating (aside from forcing yourself to seem less insane than you really are) exhausting are the games. You're never sure of the rules, and they seem to vary by person.
3. Alexander Wang's T line is a godsend. I'm currently lounging around in a wrap skirt and pocket tee. That's right. I'm lounging in a SKIRT. That's how awesome this fabric is. Super soft and perfectly molded to your body - I'm a little upset that the only man who knows my body so well is gay... which brings me to my next point:
4. The world is unfair. You will get a giant pimple in the middle of your forehead before an important meeting that may break or make your career. Your car will break down, your heel will break off, and you will oversleep and walk in with wet, soggy hair and eyeshadow on your cheeks instead of blush. Just accept that you will never win. The universe always has the upper hand.
5. Facebook will only make you feel horrible. It's a constant reminder of how unglamorous/unfulfilled/unfocused you are. On the other hand, there is an offhand chance that you will see your high school hottie 70 pounds overweight and balding, which will make you feel a little bit better.
6. Don't underestimate the power of a perfume. A friend introduced me to Le Labo, and I made a pit stop where I picked up Ambrette 9 after one whiff. It's the perfect combination of floral and citrus notes, and I love the lingering effects after it mixes with my skin's natural oils. (I sound like a salesman.) It's a great way to say I love you... to yourself.
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Friday, October 28, 2011
underrated fashion[able] films
Now that I've had my piece about the stereotypical films fashion bloggers idolize, I have quite a few films that I wouldn't mind seeing more. But as a general rule, let's all try to keep in mind that you can have too much of a good thing. (Is this a southern saying or applicable to all of the U.S.? I can't determine the universality of idioms most of the time.)
1. Brighton Rock
Based on a thriller novel written in 1947, this film is a remake with two relatively unknown actors carrying it. Relatively well written, brilliantly shot, and excellently acted, it's a great modernized film noir.
2. Submarine
A coming of age film about an awkward little boy from Swansea, you've gotta love how he idealizes the object of his affection, Jordana. You've also gotta love Jordana's uniform: red toggle coat and Lolita heart shaped glasses.
3. The Hour
Technically, this is a TV show done by the BBC and starring Ben Wishaw (who appears twice more on this list), but it's just so fantastically done that I had to list it. Following a news program show in 1956, the script is impeccable as is the casting and the scenery/props. The attention to detail is meticulous, and everything comes together beautifully albeit a bit slowly in the beginning.
4. Bright Star
Starring Ben Wishaw and Abbie Cornish, this film tells the love story between English poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne. One of his most noted poems (and one of the most romantic poems of all time), "Bright Star," was inspired by her. Visually impressive and filled with wispy moments (i.e. the moment when Fanny Brawne is laying on her bed with the curtain billowing around her), this is a perfect melancholy film.
5. Everywhere and Nowhere
Another coming of age film, but set in the "Asian" community in London. There are a lot of elements in this story that anyone who identifies themselves with a hyphen would understand. Though the plot could have been stronger, the music is solid and James Floyd is droolworthy.
6. Dans Paris
Following the story of a dysfunctional family on Christmas, the condensed one line plot summary makes the film sound dull and unwatchable. But with a very charming Louis Garrel who breaks the fourth wall by addressing the viewer, you forget that you're supposed to be watching a film and concentrate on him. Plus, it's shot in Paris, so what's not to visually love?
7. The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Hands down, favorite Wes Anderson film. How can you not love a film that inspires crazy GIFs? Stellar cast and strong script, it's a celebration of being different, minus the macarons and petit fours. Oh yeah, and it's mostly orange, a color that's overlooked in the color spectrum.
8. Norwegian Wood
The film was a sad mediocrity in comparison to the novel, but there's no denying that the film itself is aesthetically pleasing. Quaint college campuses give way to the rolling Japanese hillside, all while maintaining costume authenticity of the 1960s. At least it's a pretty waste of time.
Honorable Mentions
*I'm aware that this list is mostly comprised of British films. I am a giant Anglophile.
photos: screencapped by yours truly
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1. Brighton Rock
Based on a thriller novel written in 1947, this film is a remake with two relatively unknown actors carrying it. Relatively well written, brilliantly shot, and excellently acted, it's a great modernized film noir.
2. Submarine
A coming of age film about an awkward little boy from Swansea, you've gotta love how he idealizes the object of his affection, Jordana. You've also gotta love Jordana's uniform: red toggle coat and Lolita heart shaped glasses.
3. The Hour
Technically, this is a TV show done by the BBC and starring Ben Wishaw (who appears twice more on this list), but it's just so fantastically done that I had to list it. Following a news program show in 1956, the script is impeccable as is the casting and the scenery/props. The attention to detail is meticulous, and everything comes together beautifully albeit a bit slowly in the beginning.
4. Bright Star
Starring Ben Wishaw and Abbie Cornish, this film tells the love story between English poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne. One of his most noted poems (and one of the most romantic poems of all time), "Bright Star," was inspired by her. Visually impressive and filled with wispy moments (i.e. the moment when Fanny Brawne is laying on her bed with the curtain billowing around her), this is a perfect melancholy film.
5. Everywhere and Nowhere
Another coming of age film, but set in the "Asian" community in London. There are a lot of elements in this story that anyone who identifies themselves with a hyphen would understand. Though the plot could have been stronger, the music is solid and James Floyd is droolworthy.
6. Dans Paris
Following the story of a dysfunctional family on Christmas, the condensed one line plot summary makes the film sound dull and unwatchable. But with a very charming Louis Garrel who breaks the fourth wall by addressing the viewer, you forget that you're supposed to be watching a film and concentrate on him. Plus, it's shot in Paris, so what's not to visually love?
7. The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Hands down, favorite Wes Anderson film. How can you not love a film that inspires crazy GIFs? Stellar cast and strong script, it's a celebration of being different, minus the macarons and petit fours. Oh yeah, and it's mostly orange, a color that's overlooked in the color spectrum.
8. Norwegian Wood
The film was a sad mediocrity in comparison to the novel, but there's no denying that the film itself is aesthetically pleasing. Quaint college campuses give way to the rolling Japanese hillside, all while maintaining costume authenticity of the 1960s. At least it's a pretty waste of time.
Honorable Mentions
- Brideshead Revisited - another film with Ben Wishaw, but felt like mentioning three of his films in this list was too much. This is definitely a must-see, especially since it has all the religious overtones that drive bloggers crazy in "The Virgin Suicides." The costume is pre-WWII and parts were filmed in Oxford, which always gets a plus from me.
- Pretty in Pink - aside from the modern Cinderella storyline, there are so many awesome things in this film: Duckie's alligator creepers, Iona's prom dress (and her awesome beehive), Andie's single long earring, Steff's 80s prep uniform...
*I'm aware that this list is mostly comprised of British films. I am a giant Anglophile.
photos: screencapped by yours truly
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