The Illusionist

In my holiday movie reviews post I mentioned how much I loved The Illusionist (L'Illusionniste).  It's utterly gorgeous to look at; it's the type of animation art that puts anything Pixar to shame.  (Apparently, The Illusionist lost the Oscar to Toy Story 3.  I haven't seen Toy Story 3, nor will I, but I can't imagine that it approaches the beauty of this movie.)  The Illusionist is set mainly in Edinburgh, with a few scenes in the highlands of Scotland, and in Paris and London.  There are great interiors, in theaters, pubs, and a hotel, but it's the outdoor views of rainy, foggy, nighttime Edinburgh that I particularly fell for.  Here's a whole mess of screenshots I took that will show you what I'm talking about.

xo

K

film fashion: hugo

Andy and I saw Martin Scorsese's Hugo (in 3-D!) this weekend, and we really enjoyed it.  It's a charming film that is not just for children (something I was a bit worried about).  It's set in 1930s Paris, and naturally, I found myself obsessed with the look of one of the characters: Hugo's young friend, Isabelle.

I'm not sure what it is with me and the clothing young girls wore in the 1930s (see also my post about the film Cracks), but I love it and find it very inspiring.  Maybe it's because these girls (at least in the films) don't dress particularly childishly, but rather like young, if quirky, adults.  Anyway, Isabelle wears pretty much the same outfit througout the film: beret, striped sweater (boatneck, with buttons at the shoulder), plaid skirt, tweed jacket, and knee socks with brown boots.

I found some Isabelle-esque pieces on Etsy to recreate this look.  I might try it myself (well, sans kneesocks)--or at least I will make an effort to start wearing a beret again!

1. Harris tweed coat, from VintageChicago.
2. Brown ankle boots, from JLVintage.
3. Black Mr. John beret, from PoppycockVintage.
4. Tartan skirt by Ben Nevis, from CustardHeartVintage.
5. Handknit striped merino boatneck sweater, from corieangel.

xo

K

henry darger - in the realms of the unreal

I fully admit to being way behind the curve on this, but I plead technical difficulties.  When In the Realms of the Unreal, the documentary about the life of outsider artist and writer Henry Darger first came out in 2004, I was immediately fascinated and couldn't wait to see it.  I didn't get a chance until it came to Netflix in 2005, but the DVD I received wouldn't play in my machine.  I remember being really annoyed, as I was so looking forward to learning more about this artist and his strange work.

I recently saw this post on Some Girls Wander with photos taken of Darger's room--which had been left as it was when he died in 1973, but has since been dismantled--and decided I needed to make an effort to see the film again.

Darger was the author of a 15,000-page manuscript titled The Story of the Vivian Girls, in What is known as the Realms of the Unreal, of the Glandeco-Angelinnian War Storm, Caused by the Child Slave Rebellion, which he illustrated with several hundred drawings and watercolors. 

Darger, who'd had a troubled, difficult childhood, spent largely in an asylum for "feeble-minded children," was a self-taught artist.  One of the most fascinating sections of the film is the description of the variety of methods Darger used to master his various characters: tracing, collage, and photo enlargement among them.  

I won't even try to describe the plot of The Vivian Girls.  It's epic.  The illustrations are by turns stunningly beautiful and nightmarishly disturbing. 

I found myself mesmerized by his use of color.

The film does a brilliant job of showcasing Darger's art, at times animating it, and in a couple cases incorporating it into old photos of Chicago (where Darger lived), in a film collage.

xo

K

true grit

Andy and I went to see the Coen brothers' True Grit remake the other day, and it was, as expected, wonderful. I have to admit, I can't recall seeing the original ever, so I can't compare the two films. But the cast, scenery, dialogue--everything about it is excellent! (And don't you love the artwork from the 1969 hardcover book?)

Mattie Ross, the 14-year-old and exceptionally determined heroine, is dressed mostly in men's clothing that is too big for her--clothing that is practical for the journey she is undertaking. She wears pants and a man's overcoat, belted tight, and a fantastic wide-brimmed hat.

I tried to find a similar hat on Etsy, and this one from LonesomeBrown (what a great name!) was close enough.

I didn't find much more clothing of that era on Etsy that reminded me of Mattie, but this amazing outfit from VeraVague does look like something the adult Mattie would have worn.

Speaking of which, I got all excited when I saw Mattie, near the end of the film, wearing a suit kind of similar to--and made from what looks like nearly the same fabric--as this cute 1940s suit in my Etsy shop.

I also have in the shop prairie boots of the same era--surely the same kind of boots Mattie would have worn--as well as a 1950s petticoat skirt that looks like it could hail from the Old West.

And please let me share with you a few more Etsy items that have that True Grit feel. Tooled leather belt from belovedvintage.

Pyrography carved wood frame, from MouseTrapVintage.

Antique photo of a most determined-looking girl, from PaperMoChez.

Old money receipts book, from nesstiques.

Vintage spurs, from pearlsvintage.

Neat old aluminum coffee pot, from AntoinettesWhims.

xo

K

a room with a view

I was feeling in the need for something a little escapist last night, so I Insta-watched A Room with a View on Netflix. I don't think I've seen it since it was originally released in 1985, at which time I thought it was the most beautiful and romantic thing since my teenage obsession, Brideshead Revisted. It's a great film, not least of all for the pretty Edwardian fashions and for its Italian and English settings.

(Click on the movie screen captures to see them bigger!)

I think I'm supposed to like Lucy's romantic, frothy, white lace outfit here, but instead I'm loving Eleanor Lavish's smart tie, pouf shoulders, and straw hat.

The film is gorgeous, just pure eye candy to look at. The settings are more beautiful than the clothing really. I adore all the tans and taupe-y colors used in the costuming; they are a perfect foil for the Italian fields and English gardens.

Even the sparkly eveningwear is taupe (which I happen to adore). Of course, the real star of this movie may be Helena Bonham Carter's hair, which I could not stop staring at. It's enormous. It's tamed into a long braid in Italy, at the beginning of the film, but later on it seems to develop a life of its own, exploding out of the updos its been swept into, becoming a kind of metaphor for Lucy's exasperation with Cecil and George.

I did love the rare color in scene: the red outfit, plum-colored hat, and patch of purple flowers.

Here's brother Freddie, sartorially resplendent in a crazy-wonderful striped jacket and straw boater. And floppy hair, of course. It runs in the family!

Lucy with buttoned-down Cecil, and somewhat tamed hair. I love the gorgeous satin and lace peasant top she is wearing--elegantly bohemian and so romantic!

Some Julian Sands eye candy for the ladies. Lucy's black chiffon dress--what we can see of it--looks gorgeous. Sadly, we don't get to see much more of it.

Watching the film again inspired me to search Etsy for Edwardian fashions. Here are some of the prettier things I found (click photo to go to the listing; seller's store name and link beneath photo):

snootieseconds

salvagelife

LoulousVintage

13bees

VintConditionStyle

xo

K