lisztomania

School is exhausting. I'll be back sometime after Wednesday (which is when my 5-7 page paper for a book I haven't finished yet is due, and which is also when my first run through of my un-started photo project is due). Lesson of the day: don't procrastinate. But if you do, at least know how to dance like the brat pack.

little rascal

To continue with my attempt to induce an '80s redux, I bought that necklace out of the sale section of Modcloth (herrreee). I also bought it in white (and I wish I got it in purple, too)! It reminds me of Sloane's jacket in Ferris Bueller. The white leather one with fringe and big shoulders. Ah, the '80s. I'm basically collecting any bit of thing from that decade, so if you have something you don't want, send it to me!
I bought that shirt from a sale the second hand shop in the village was having last weekend. It's a bit big (as it's little boy's L 14/16), but oversized is never bad. And I whipped my purple Docs back out from the depths of my shoe closet. Poor things have been neglected ever since I purchased them. I wanted to keep up with the colour theme, so I used my dark blue shiny shoulder bag which I got from some vintage extravaganza (aka a shop called Sophie Joe's) some many weeks ago. It's really big and cool. I bought it to use as a camera bag, but my attempt to add padding in it failed....of course.

I think this outfit (I'm wearing the first one today, this one was from a few days ago) also has a bit of '80s influence to it, too. I bought those pants many moons ago and never wear them (even though they're flannel and heaven on the inside) because I'm not crazy about the fit. Also, they have fake pockets, which I view as the downfall of humanity (fake pockets). I bought the blue button down and the blazer at the second hand shop's crazy sale. I think that blazer is my new favourite (sorry red tartan blazer...). It's got absolutely no structure and just flops about, but then you put it on and it's amazing! And only $11, too. However....FAKE POCKETS. Why?!?! And as winter moves in (the sun sets at 4pm, what?), I've begun stocking up on winter goods. I purchased those mitten-things from Urban Outfitters. $5. I love sales.
As you can see, I've been in a bit of a blue mood lately. I mean, as in the colour and how it relates to what I wear. Not as in, mentally I've been blue da ba dee da ba die. It's just been so cold and wet and dark out lately. Oh, winter.
I went to the aquarium yesterday! The one in the Mall of America, "Underwater World." It was amazing. You walk through this tunnel of glass with sharks, fish, turtles, and stingrays swimming above your head and to every side of you. Unfortunately I went right after school and didn't have my camera. Well, I have a photo of a starfish on my cell. I named it Fred Astaire because it looked to be dancing. At the end, you get to touch a bunch of the creatures (starfish, sea anemonies, crabs, etc.) They took away the stingrays to pet, but it was still great fun. We (my friend Jacob & I) talked to this bloke named Kelly who was far too obsessed with sea creatures, but he was real nice and I like guys named Kelly.
Well, I should go find something to do now. I took a 7 hour nap last night, woke up at 3am. Nothing to do. Went back to sleep for 4 hours. Basically got 11 hours of sleep last night, am wide awake. Time to go party.

top hat, white tie, and tails

I was feeling a little guilty after that whole "ohhh I love Gene Kelly, he's the dancing man for me" debacle, so I'm here to re-claim my love for Fred Astaire and convince everyone else of it, too.

Born in 1899, Fred began working a show business at the age of 5 with his older sister Adele.

His first screen test noted, "Can't act. Can't sing. Slightly bald. Dances a little."
Honestly, I find Fred's extreme widow's peak and premature balding to be very sexy.

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire co-starred in 10 movies together.

Top Hat is my personal favourite (and first) Fred Astaire film. The above scene shows Fred's true romantic side. Many of his films are about him falling in love with a girl who despises him. By the end, she's absolutely infatuated with the man (who can blame her?). This particular scene shows how put off Ginger is with Fred. By the end, you can see the love in her eyes. I know this is a long-ish clip, but you will not be disappointed if you watch it. The dancing is brilliant, the song is classic (Cheek to Cheek), and look at Ginger's dress!!

His ever so famous ceiling dance in Royal Wedding. Love makes you do strange, sometimes remarkable, things.

Such style! I wish more men dressed like him - that is proper gentleman garb.

I do not condone smoking. He just looks darn adorable (and a little more casual) here.

Fred recieved AFI's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1981. I've never actually watched this whole clip, but I find his sticky-out ears to be ridiculously endearing. (p.s. He looks less bald in his old age) Fred passed away from pneumonia on June 22, 1987, after a 76 year long career. He made 31 musical films and has been named the 5th greatest male star of all time by the American Film Institute.

Maybe you can now see why I'm so infatuated with this brilliant man. And maybe you feel yourself falling a bit, too? I highly recommend that everyone watch even just one Fred Astaire film. He's inspiring, charming, adorable, and heck, just worth your time.

I only came because you asked me to

In my attempt to bring back the '80s (I don't think I ever mentioned this, but I will now: I'm trying to induce an '80s redux), I've been breaking out the leg warmers. They make me feel a little kitty-ish but it's okay, as it's all in the name of the eighties. I've been rewatching (for about the hundredth time each) the John Hughes classics (uhm, Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller) and it's been totally putting me in the eighties-leg-warmer-big-hair-sequins-type mood. What do you guys think of '80s fashion?

I got my hair cut today! I don't know if you can really tell, as the front is exactly the same. I just got the back shaped up. No Clara Bow/freaky big haired model style for me, but I like it anyway. Short hair is good.
So, is it normal for computers to feature microphones? Because I have an online French assignment which requires the use of a microphone and I haven't found anyone whose computer features a microphone. It's ridiculous. School has been breaking me the past couple of weeks. Especially French and photography. I had a French written test today and an oral exam tomorrow. And then I've been skipping photography because I don't have the assignment (due two weeks ago) finished. I've got 4 more prints due on Wednesday and I haven't even begun shooting for that yet. Ohhh boy.
In other news, I have a major crush on Gene Kelly. I'm sorry, he's so darling.

An American in Paris, Singin' in the Rain, Anchors Aweigh...I have On the Town at the top of my Netflix queue. On a side note: I will never be in love with Gene as much as I am with Fred Astaire (uhm, Gene can't dance on ceilings), but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate Gene Kelly too, right?

survival of the fittest

I BEAT SWINE FLU!!!!

Yes, it's true! After a week of moping around the house, doped up on Vicodin, I've finally fully recovered from the horrors of H1N1. Glory is mine! For those who've not been cursed with this plague yet, basically it feels like someone beat you up with a lead pipe (Ms Scarlett, in the ballroom?). But that is over with now, and I can appreciate life in a new light.

And I'll start the appreciation with being named Girl of the Week over at Teen Vogue. This is a huge honour, so I just wanted to say "Why thanks, Teen Vogue!" If you don't usually read their blog, you really ought to. And if you don't usually read their magazine, well then, shame on you.

I'm getting my hair cut on Thursday. I'm thinking I might get the above style, but I'm not sure yet! On the brightside (which I always try to look on), if I leave the above cut unstyled (as face it, probably will happen), I'll roll out of bed looking something like Ms Clara Bow:



Now that's not all bad, is it?

they say we have nine lives

Meeeooow, I hope everyone had a positively smashing Halloween night, filled with tricks and treats. I finally decided on being a cat, and it was a blast. I went with a sequin theme and spent loads of money on new clothes (bad kitty). I hung out with some friends in a creepy suburban home, watching The Uninvited and Halloween, and cramming my kitty mouth with cupcakes and other treats. What did you ghoulies and ghosties dress up as for Halloween?

And now, we're into November! Welcome, my dear friend. November is a great month, because you have the day after Thanksgiving, which is when all the Christmas stuff comes out. The decorations, the movies (It's a Wonderful Life, Eloise, A Christmas Story, Elf, ooooh I cannot wait!), the cookies, the cards, the music (not that I haven't been listening to it already). Christmas is the absolutely most wonderful time of the year. I've never bothered with any of the after Thanksgiving day sales, though. I don't know why, maybe I should, but I'd rather stick around at home watching the snow, listening to my *N Sync Christmas album.

I don't have much else to say. I'm so anxious for Christmas that I can barely keep it in, but I don't want to bog you readers down with my over-excited writing about the holiday season.

p.s Lookbook.nu is not working. My life feels incomplete. Work, LB! I love yooouuu!!