ALL HALLOW'S EVE

I have just come back from dressing a bride, a client of mine whose older sister also got married in one of my dresses and whose mother is a client as well, and I'm getting ready to go to the party, but I still wanted to write this post before I left.
This has been quite a touching morning.  This HAS been a hectic week - I am well aware it is the month of Scorpio by now- so I guess I'm also extra sensitive, and therefore, the slightest things can affect me, like remembering Gianni Versace's violent death out of the blue.  A friend of mine commented she'd be dressing up as a witch to go treat or treating with two other friends, one of them dressed up as Perseus.  I couldn't help but suggest that she should dress up as Medusa and even said it would be "SO Gianni".
Though I could go on for quite a long while talking about Gianni Versace, I think he deserves a post of his own, so I'll save that idea for the future.
So after thinking about his death, how "you only live once" and questioning whether I will actually leave a footprint on this earth, I came across the following performance.



Just when you thought my mood could not descend any further, the final nerve in my system got struck by this girl's voice and this beautiful song.

CHER LLOYD PERFORMING "STAY" ON X-FACTOR LAST NIGHT
(picture from www.dailymail.co.uk)

 Though I had heard of Shakespeare's Sister back in the 90's, I don't think I was ever exposed to any of their music, so I was pleasantly surprised when I heard Cher Lloyd perform their song STAY (thank you Perez Hilton once again) on X Factor.

SHAKESPEAR'S SISTER

 After watching her amazing performance I had to check out the original version and I loved it as well.  A powerful, haunting, goosebump-inducing song and an equally striking video.  I NEED A DRINK NOW.

DANCING IS MY REMEDY

After quite an uninspiring morning here are two music videos that have managed to cheer me up a bit Robyn's INDESTRUCTIBLE ( http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=106911853#pm_cmp=vid_OEV_P_P  ) and Katy Perry's FIREWORK. I have to say I loved Robyn's dress, it reminded me a bit of a dress and purse collection I made when I made it through to the Paris finals of the Jeunes Créateurs de Mode contest. I also have to confess my eyes got a little watery while watching Katy Perry's video.  I loved that it was filmed in Budapest.
Though I owe the title of this post to Little Boots, you know who was the first one to say you could dance for inspiration...

GYMSPIRATION!

OCTOBER 20th: ARE YOU WEARING PURPLE TODAY?

A tie, a scarf, a pin.  Anything goes to show your support.
Here's an interesting link : http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20020164-504083.html
(I'm also wearing purple corduroy jeans just in case you were wondering).

CARDIO ANTHEMS

BARBRA STREISAND by DUCK SAUCE

HOW RETRO

I've talked about the 80's many times, I myself was one of those that thought they'd never be back and then fell for almost every single trend from that decade that has sneaked back into our lives.  This morning's newspaper had the headline featured above, it reads "THE KREMLIN CONDECORATED SPIES WHO WERE EXPELLED".  Isn't this just a bit TOO 80's?
I remember a whole family of kids from the U.S. at my school in Moscow were expelled and had to leave the country in a short time's notice when their parents had been accused of being spies (one of them was a really good friend of my sister's).  We found it so unfair and thought it was just some sort of retaliation for a Soviet family that had been expelled from Washington weeks before.  Their American nanny stayed and became a teacher's assistant at our school.
I also remember how our house there had been completely wired (is this the correct term?).  A few months before we arrived in 1987, the Embassy had detected the places where the microphones had been placed, and when my sister and I found out where they were, we decided we place ourselves close enough in order to say nasty comments about the Russians and about living in the Soviet Union (God knows we actually LOVED it there).  Even the staff at the house was in on this game.  Our cook, Valia, was fluent in Spanish, yet she pretended to barely know the language.
We know fashion and its trends come up as a result or echo of our times, but today it just felt like it was the other way around.

IF YOU'RE IN LONDON THIS WEEK...

Just got this delivered to my mailbox so...take a peek:

Thursday 21st October 6pm - 8pm The World of Manolo Room Ground Floor

Cancel any plans you might have this Thursday and head down to Liberty for the unique chance to meet fashion’s most illustrious shoe designer, Manolo Blahnik. To celebrate the launch of his new book, 'Manolo’s New Shoes', Blahnik will be in store signing purchases. Don't miss this rare opportunity to see the man behind some of the most well renowned and iconic shoes ever produced. 'Manolo’s New Shoes', published by Thames & Hudson, collects together previously unpublished sketches and designs including those for Sofia Coppola’s celebrated Marie Antoinette biopic, with accompanying text from fashion’s best known names including Suzy Menkes and Grace Coddington. GET MANOLO'S NEW SHOES

THE NEXT GENERATION

DISCUSS.

SHOW THEM YOU CARE

I thought I'd be able to keep myself from posting other videos regarding Julie Andrews on the day of her birthday, but it's been impossible. I just watched the following bit from Mary Poppins three times straight, and though Feed The Birds is probably one of the saddest songs in the movie, it is also one of my favorites. The music is beautiful, as well as her voice and interpretation, but above all, the imagery and lyrics, are probably the most touching ingredients of this powerful combination. I guess they must have spoken to the young animal activist in me.

Early each day to the steps of Saint Paul's
The little old bird woman comes
In her own special way to the people she call,
"Come, buy my bags full of crumbs;
Come feed the little birds,
Show them you care
And you'll be glad if you do
Their young ones are hungry
Their nests are so bare
All it takes is tuppence from you
Feed the birds, tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag
Feed the birds," that's what she cries
While overhead, her birds fill the skies

All around the cathedral the saints and apostles
Look down as she sells her wares
Although you can't see it,
You know they are smiling
Each time someone shows that he cares

Though her words are simple and few
Listen, listen, she's calling to you
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag"

Having lived in Eastern Europe as a child, I never felt the urge to travel to London (like I did for Paris), so my first time there was when I was 27, and I have to say I fell in love with the city.
Though stalking Madonna and a trip to her house in Marylebone were within my plans, they were not as important as going to Saint Paul's Here it goes.

A SPOONFUL OF JULIE

What would our world be without Julie Andrews? I really don't know. So many people's childhood memories are inevitably linked to her I can't possibly think of anyone who doesn't hold a special place for her in their heart. Unlike what was said about Singin' In The Rain's Lina Lamont, she CAN act, she CAN dance and she CAN sing, she is perhaps the embodiment of the word "talent".
I was thinking about the videos I should post regarding her but there's an endless list in Mary Poppins alone, and then there's The Sound of Music, Victor Victoria, etc. etc.
Though we associate her name mostly to films that belong to the comedy and musical genres, what's special about Julie Andrews is that she is also an actress with range. Just a couple of weeks ago I was over a couple of friends' house and we were about to watch her in Hitchcock's Torn Curtain, alongside Paul Newman, but something, I dont' recall what, got in the way and we ended up watching something else.
I'm having a sort of hectic week, but I had to take a minute or two to sit down and write about her today. Happy 75th Birthday!