A rollicking good time

It's not in my top 100 movies of all time but in some ways "Little Big Man" (directed by Arthur Penn, 1970) creates the ultimate film experience. You want drama? Check. How about pathos? Check. Care for a little humor? Check. Like epics? Check. Want history? Check. Brilliant acting interest you? Check. I could go on.
I remember seeing "Little Big Man" in a theater when it debuted when I was a teen and I was blown away. What a life for a young man-to-be to contemplate. The imagination of an all ready imaginative young man was enthralled. Today my middle age imagination is still taken in by "Little Big Man."
How to capsulize such a story? Not easy but here goes: All family but a sister wiped out by hostile Indians, taken in by Cheyenne to, in the main character Jack Crabb's words, not just play Indian but to be an Indian. Only to be subsequently taken back into white society after "rescue" in battle. Then to be given a bath by Faye Dunaway. (Mmmmmm.) From there to be a swindler, gun fighter, family man, mule skinner, Indian again and one with a family at that. Having the "chore" of making love to your wife's three young widowed sisters....Then tragedy at the hands of General Custer. THE Custer!
With dignity and life's meaning seemingly gone to be a gutter drunk. Dickensian re-encounters with earlier characters and all this against the backdrop of the Wild West. Then to be at Little Big Horn...
"Little Big Man" is by no means a perfect film but it is a perfectly wonderful way to tickle one's interest in U.S. History and have a rollicking good time. Hoffman is superb in the title role making the character at once an everyman and larger than life. Viewers can both relate to Crabb and wonder at his incredible life (as can readers of the marvelous book of the same name and its sequel).
What a lot of fun.

For the books

After attending well over 1,000 baseball games I finally saw my first triple play last night. It was only the second the Giants have turned at home since moving to San Francisco so it is a rarer sight here than a no hitter. No, I've not seen a no hitter but I have seen a player hit for the cycle. I've seen all manner of feats, records and spectacular plays but the triple play was a genuine thrill for me. Sadly it came in a game the local nine ultimately lost in 13 innings.
The night was also made special as it was the Giants 15th Until There's A Cure Game. Also, they honored Omar Vizquel before the game for setting the record for most games played at shortstop -- by anyone, in the history of the majors. Among those on hand for the ceremonies honoring him was the man whose record he broke, fellow Venezuelan and Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio. I've long appreciated the extent to which the Giants go out of their way to honor the game's and their teams rich history. History (a subject I love) is part of what makes baseball so special. The game's history is richly intertwined with the nation's fabric in a way that no other American sport can claim. Last night provided more examples.
If only the son of guns had won.

Rihanna's Rocking Rocks

According to OK Magazine, Rihanna's going to be blinging the charts soon. Her rumored boyfriend Chris Brown has apparently given his sweetie a ruby and diamond necklace worth a cool $100,000.

Beverly-Hills based jewelry designer Jason Arasheben told the mag that 'Chris went for the heart theme. He said, 'She's going to love this because she loves hearts.'

Rihanna is apparently returning the favor, ordering from the swanky jeweler a diamond-encrusted cross for Chris . The jeweler, not one for keeping quiet about his customers, also told the gossip mag that the singer 'gave specific instructions about Chris' gift. She was very particular about wanting the cross to match his other jewelry.'

Graduation Dresses II

Of course my thoughts on graduation dresses could not all be expressed in just one post. I do love to overanalyze things and this is a topic that has occupied my thoughts for quite some time now (in between, 'Why oh why, is paper writing so hard? It should've gotten easier after four years...'). So here are some more of my thoughts:
Usually the saying goes, 'when all else fails, turn to the LBD.' I think graduation is the exception, because it would just be so...black! But if you must, I think these black dresses with some prints and patterns would be a great option to offset the blackness (left: Donna Ricco, right: Cynthia Steffe). I actually quite like the Cynthia Steffe. The cutting is simple and the pattern is subtle but interesting.
In the case for graduation, I think the saying should be, 'when all else fails, turn to the white dress.' Here we have a very classic white dress from Theory (left). Maybe you can add personality to it with some accessories? The other day, I saw graduation pictures of people with pearl necklaces and matching earrings, and it looked very elegant. For a bit more fun, this dress from Carmen Marc Valvo (right) is cute.
Of course, all else has not failed yet. You might want to go to the other extreme and go for bright florals. That would definitely brighten up the gown. The thing about graduation dresses, is that they should be daytime, but not too casual, maintaining a bit of modesty and decorum. That is a hard line to balance. You'd notice that I haven't picked anything too revealing nor too casual so far. The trick for floral dresses is to choose one with a clean cutting so it won't look too much.
You can also take a book from my page (I think I've decided on wearing my purple Marc by MJ dress from the last post) and go for a dress with a simple cutting but a bold color. I LOVE the simple yet elegant cutting of the blue Burberry dress (left), even though this blue is not my best color. My best color is of course, purple, like this purple on the Rory Beca dress (right).
I know I said nothing too low cut, but if you can carry it off, I LOVE this purple Nanette Lepore dress (left). The details are just so feminine and PRETTY. On the opposite end, there is this bolder block dress (right), from Theory. Whichever one suits your personality better.
Another great summer color (especially for SS08 as it is THE color) to think about is yellow. It is summery, refreshing, not too girly nor too dark and just super fun. There is this simple one from Vince (left). But personally I ADORE this yellow block dress from T Tahari (right). My friend got this (and I hope she keeps it!). The cutting is simple and elegant, and the block colors highlight the cutting of the dress, making it even more flattering for the wearer. Come to think of it, I want a yellow dress like this too!

Image Source: Saks, Nordstrom, Shopbop and Bloomingdales

The Horror, The Horror

So it's a horror movie with Boris Karloff in it, what's the big deal?
It's not what you think. It's John Ford's "The Lost Patrol" from 1934 and its ostensibly about a British army patrol in the deserts of Mesopotamia during World War I that gets, as the title suggests, lost.
There are no monsters, there is no supernatural but it has all the classic apsects of the horror genre. From virtually the first shot of the movie (no pun intended) members of the patrol are picked off by unseen snipers. These killers are not seen until the closing moments of the film and at that point their faces are obscured. Those not killed early on are pushed near or into madness by the desperation of their situation and the manner their comrades keep dropping like flies.
Victor McLaglen (who in real life served the British army in that war in that locale) is excellent in the lead role playing the troop's sergeant. Karloff is creepy as one of his charges, an evangelical Christian who starts losing the few marbles he has with a predictable but nonetheless poignant result. Reginald Denny also features. Film buffs are more accustomed to seeing Denny as the cocktail swilling raconteur in an expensive suit. He shines here especially when giving a soliloquy on his life. The ubiquitous Alan Hale has a relatively small role.
In many respects it is director Ford who stars. As with most of his films the phogrpahy is dramatic and expressive without a wasted shot.
The Lost Patrol is a very real and very scary movie that comments not merely on war but the manner in which people respond to situation of real life horror.
Imagine, a horror film disguised as a war movie.

insomnia my friend

I can't sleep. So instead of going to bed I'm reading. I've been cleaning out my closet all evening and I even painted my nails...it's been a while since I last paninted them. Might give sleeping a try after all now...or maybe I'm going to read some more and go into work late tomorrow. G'night!

And I Quote

The Scottish philosopher David Hume once said, "Beauty in things exist in the mind which contemplates them." I write that not to introduce a writing on beauty or the mind but merely to impress you. Quoting the famous yet not well-known (like Hume, David but not like Clooney, George) is a wonderful pretense. If I quote Hume or Descartes or Tennyson, it creates the illusion that I'm well versed in their thoughts and writings. I therefore must be a pretty erudite guy. I mean you wouldn't assume that I just came across the quote somewhere and know little or nothing else about the author.
Names like the aforementioned are ideal for the impressive quote. They're writers, philosophers, poets whose names have a vague familiarity. It's all well and good to quote Shakespeare or Lincoln but come on, everybody knows all about THOSE guys. No, to put on airs you need the vaguely familiar. Foreign names are good too like Flaubert or Schopenhauer. People who read translated stuff have got to be brainy. Or maybe you read it in the original language!
Of course referencing such people in conversation can have the same effect. And really, who's going to call you on it?

In The Soup

Keeping your jewelry safe is one thing. Stashing it in an empty soup can though isn't necessarily the best place to hide your treasures as one women recently discovered.

She thought she was doing a good deed and as they say, no good deed goes unpunished. Theresa Hekel recently filled a large bag full of cans of food to donate to the Postal Service's canned food drive. While she was busy raiding her pantry, she forgot that that one of the soup cans was actually full of her jewelry. She thought it was a safe place to keep her gems, including her wedding ring.

Once she realized that she'd donated more than just tomato soup, she hurried on down to the warehouse where the food was being sorted and distributed. After hours and hours of searching though, the fake soup can still eluded the good deeder and volunteers who were helping look.

Today, a plea went out to anyone who may discover more than crushed tomatoes when they open their can of soup...... and yes, the soup will be replaced along with a reward for the return of the jewelry.

Isn't it romantic?

I dated in the era before cell phones, email, texting and googling people. I was trying to imagine what it's like to date today. First of all it must be a whole lot more convenient. I remember leaving phone messages with the parents and later with roommates. Would she even get the message? If not she'd perhaps think I was no longer interested or that I was inconsiderate. This was also before answering machines were prominent (good God I'm dating myself here) so often you'd endure the frustration of ring after unanswered ring. And don't even get me started on busy signals.
Today you can call a cell phone, no middle man or woman involved. You can also text or send an email. You kids today have it so easy.
But I imagine there are perils too. You have a few too many and leave a randy message or send an inappropriate email. You can't take those back. Also, you KNOW she got your message so why hasn't she contacted you?
And don't even think about trying to BS a woman with an exaggerated life story. She can just go to google and there it is. You didn't go to Harvard, you never worked for the Rand Corporation, you didn't letter in basketball. You're right, this is a good thing.
My wife has a shoe-box full of love letter I wrote her. Do people keep love letters today? Do they write them? I'm sure there's love emails and you can save those, but it's hardly the same. Is it? Ninety per cent of the letters I wrote her were pounded out on an old Royal manual typewriter with a hand written signature at the bottom. That’s romantic.

Nike Dri-FIT Technology

When I was an early teen, I used to think sporty graphic t-shirts were the best. They were comfortable, matched with all my jeans and pants, and just seemed so cool. This was when I still had to wear school uniform to school and all before fashion made any sense to me. Thankfully I have grown up since then, learnt more about fashion and have realised that I am simply not the type of girl to wear sporty clothes in a cool way. The Nike tees I favoured weren't even the fashionable styles like the images above -they were the 'performance' types.

I am not saying that sporty tees are not cool. I'm just saying that I don't pull the style off. Actually, if I see someone in magazines wearing a sporty tee in a casual style and pulling it off, I automatically think she's either really pretty (thus manages to pull off all sort of style,) or that she's one of those cool, boyfriend-jeans-type-of girls. Although now that I think about it, those have usually been Adidas shirts.

In the past, I've always chosen white or light-coloured graphic tees by Nike. I've tried a Filas tee, but that didn't fit as well or look as pretty. Usually, the Nike tees are made of Nike's Dri-FIT material, which like the label above says, helps absorb sweat and helps cool you down. While I wouldn't say the shirts feel 100% 'breathable', they did feel air-ier than the tees by other brands. But for the past five years I've slowed down buying these tees until last month, I realised that my old ones either have holes in them or the colour has faded, so I visited sports shops and bought two. The strange thing is, after trying the two new tees for a month, I actually think the tees have improved a lot!

The shirt is really what the description says it is -the fabric is seriously 'breathable'. It absorbs sweat and allows air to get through to cool your body down. And very importantly, for such a 'breathable' shirt, it is not see-though, which you should not take for granted when it comes to light-coloured, airy, sporty tees.

I'm not sure what has changed. The label on the shirt looks slightly different -it now says FIT DRY instead of Dri-FIT, and there's the little label (image above) printed on the tees, but aren't they the same thing? The new tees also feel smoother and more slippery, like satin, than the old tees. OK, this is not worth over-analysing -Nike has probably just improved its material technology. But seriously, I love the material.

Nike has also used the technology for its other products. I bought a pair of sporty pants last December on sale (like this pair except mine is longer,) and they are so comfortable. I was walking in them on the streets and I could actually feel the cool London wind. So if you're the athletic type of girl who enjoys running outdoors, a pair of these breezy Nike pants would be perfect, (or at least I imagine it would be, since I don't actually run outdoors.)

On top of the two Nike tees, I also ignored my brand loyalty for Nike for 10 minutes and bought a tee by Adidas. While I love the design by Adidas a lot more (-I love the three gold stripes on the sleeves,) the fabric just felt like normal, sporty, cotton material. It definitely didn't feel as breezy as Nike's.

Which brand do you prefer your sports tee from? And if you've bought a Nike Dri-FIT tee recently, do you think they're actually more breathable, or am I just imagining it?

Image Credits: www.nike.com, www.urbanoutfitters.com

Jewelry.com - Resetting Etiquette

Whether it’s an engagement ring that’s been relegated to the jewelry box, a diamond ring you’ve inherited or a generous diamond gift that just isn’t you, the question to reset or not is usually a painful one to answer. Diamonds are an emotional gem and to change their home is a difficult decision. But, before you decide one way or another, make sure you’re fully aware of all your options and when you decide, be happy with your decision.

Divorce is probably the number one reason why most women take off their diamond engagement ring. One of the most common questions I’m asked, is ‘should I sell the ring and if so, where?’ Just remember, the resale price of a diamond ring is way below the price paid for it. Most people after finding out how much they’ll receive, decide it’s not worth selling, but then have no idea what to do with the ring. Most don’t feel comfortable wearing the ring as is.
One of the most popular ways to re-set a diamond ring is either to take out the diamond and set it as a pendant, or reset the diamond with smaller gemstones surrounding it, to give it an entirely different look and feel.

If you have an heirloom the question of to reset or not is even harder. After all, this ring may have been passed down from generation to generation and to take it out of its originally setting is almost like breaking the chain. You are the only one to answer this question, there is no right or wrong when it comes to etiquette in this situation. If you have children, talk to them to see how they feel, after all it maybe theirs one day. If you do decide to reset, then when you talk to your jeweler, find out about having an antique setting that is more to your taste, but still keeping within the era of the original setting.

If the diamond was a gift from a generous friend, then be aware, if you do decide to reset the diamond, how will you explain this when they ask you where it is? Whatever you do, don’t reset without speaking to them first. After all, what’s more important, a piece of jewelry or a lifelong friendship?

If you do decide to take the resetting plunge, make sure you go to a reputable jeweler that specializes in resetting. Spend time with the jeweler and make sure you’re confident that they understand what you’re looking for.

A good idea is to have the diamond graded by a professional gemological laboratory such as IGI or GIA. They’ll examine the stone and you’ll receive a diamond certificate detailing the diamond’s properties. That way if any queries arise when you receive the diamond back in it’s new setting you can re-check that it is the same stone.

Make sure the jeweler insures the stone during the period they have it. If they don’t make sure your insurance covers the diamond during this time.

Find out how long it will take to reset the stone - you don’t want any nasty surprises.
If you’re having additional stones in the new setting, make sure they’re the quality you want, ask to see a sample of the types of gems of diamonds that will be surrounding the diamond, together with your diamond. Some colors or diamonds reflect in the main stone, making the stone appear duller than it is (and vice-versa, they may bring added brilliance to your gem).
The same applies if you’ve having it set in gold. Some diamonds appear to have a more pronounced yellow tint when set in yellow gold. White gold or platinum may make the stone appear more colorless.

Let's Sketch It Up a Bit (You Laugh Now.)

My favorite...







I love 60s Fashion.





I'm usually not one for hats...




This picture looks amazing expanded.

Can we talk -- and listen?

There's an awful lot to say about race in this country and there's a lot of talking that needs to go on. It occurs to me that the biggest problem is being able to listen.
Here's a problem for white people: If they're honest about their feelings one of three things is likely to happen - they'll either be exposed as racist, they'll sound racist, or they'll be accused of being racist. Therein lies a huge part of the problem, the word racist. It's so charged and its so overused. Racism itself is generally institutionalized, not practiced by individuals. Most people can be accurately accused of prejudices or bias but racism is pretty strong stuff and doesn't apply all that often anymore.
A lot of white people are afraid to engage in a dialogue about race. And I'm not even talking about those whites who don't see what the problem is (have you seen statistics comparing the number of African American males in college versus the number in prison? Or the poverty rate among African Americans compared with whites?). The conservative narrative doesn't even acknowledge that there's an institutional solution necessary or desirable.
The United States got in this jam because after slavery ended the Reconstruction Era failed the Freedmen. What followed -- after the oh-so brief run Radical Reconstruction enjoyed, was the Jim Crow Era and conditions for blacks that can be legitimately argued were worse than slavery. True racism became entrenched in this slave-free country and extricating ourselves from the mess it caused could not be accomplished by Civil Rights legislation alone.
There’s a lot of hatred, anger and bitterness. There’s also a lot of misunderstanding as there can be when you essentially have two different cultures. Many white people don’t acknowledge that they are part of the problem nor that they need to be part of any solution. After all, they can legitimately claim, it’s not MY fault. It’s hard for me to speak for my African Americans brothers and sisters but I know many are alienated from “the system” and discouraged, more intent on surviving day-to-day than even dreaming of systemic change.
As a nation we should be talking about this openly, and listening eagerly and doing both without fear. It would seem an impossible task but if an African American can be elected president later this year, who knows.

Asos Order

I did it. I ordered the YSL-esque heels from Asos and also got myself these leather buckle ankle boots that were on sale. Also ordered some nice cosmetics to justify the expensive shipping costs.

Summertime

Christina Ricci in L'Officiel May 2008

Under The Cover Of Gold

When I saw the following article, all I could think was 'who would have such much money, yet so little brains to buy it.....' Yet another of the 'world's most expensive' titles has been bestowed - this time for sheets. Yep, bed linen.

A British-based company, Charlotte Thomas has created some sheets and pillowcases for the super-rich. Forget Egyptian cotton and thread count, this is way beyond such minutae.

The company recently launched a set of hand-made linen that features 22-carat gold sewn into merino fabric. Every piece is supported with an Indian silk jacquard and of course is 1000- thread Egyptian cotton.

The price of gold covered dreams? Well a pillowcase will set you back $2400.

Cannes Festival Fashion 2008

Now that Cannes is over, it is time to admire the dresses! Its not quite as fun to look at as the ones from the Costume Institute, but we got to take our joy where we can find them.
Best dress definitely goes to Natalie Portman. I love how all her outfits are so cute, funny, girly and yet she still looks elegant.
I love the flirty red tiered dress! Not so hot on this black/white number though. It doesn't look very well made. Nor particularly flattering.
Something more sophisticated. Cate Blanchett looks great in Armani. Mischa looks stunning too in that rich royal blue gown. Though I think she looks a little too sophisticated for her age.
Aishwarya Rai looks classic in that silver dress. And I absolutely adore the back and the long train of Penelope Cruz's cream Marchesa dress.
Now onto the disasters. How did Chanel come up with these two hideous creations to adorn Madonna and Gweneth Paltrow with? Though Madonna's dress actually makes Gweneth's dress look not so bad! Dita von Teese looks pale and ghostly in this green Christian Lacroix creation. Ugh. She looks much better in the simple white wrap dress.
Linsday Lohan looks like she's wearing an expensive green Persian rug. Angelina Jolie actually looks quite pretty here . The cutting of this Max Azria dress quite her current figure perfectly. I also love how she chose to wear minimal make-up. She already naturally glows from her condition. The only thing though is that I don't like this color. It just looks so.... earthy and dirty. She'd look much better in a more vibrant color.
Milla Jovovich needs to fire or hire (if she hasn't already got one) a stylist. And go eat something. Are those rib bones I see (right in green)?

Image Source: NY Mag and Style Dash