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Wednesdays for Women: Cleopatra and Elizabeth Taylor

I want to bring back Wednesdays for Women! I miss getting to research and learn about great historical women each week. This one, admittedly, is less research based, but I was on an antiquities kick after reading Claudius the God (Robert Graves is one of my favorites), and stumbled over the old three hour Cleopatra movie with Elizabeth Taylor. I was surprised to see Rex Harrison as Julius Caesar (not necessarily the first 60’s star the mind jumps to at the thought of masculine strength and nation founders), but sexy Rexy didn’t disappoint. Equally interesting was Elizabeth Taylor’s wardrobe throughout the movies. The ’60s take on Egyptian hats is kind of ridiculous (even more ridiculous than most 60s hats in general), but seeing all of them is kind of like watching a fire–they’re so strange you can’t really stop looking. Without further ado: the style of Cleopatra!

Do you Believe in Magic?

Greetings from Harry Potter World! In anticipation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, I’ve incorporated a bit of a 1920’s flare. The costumes in the trailer are perfection, don’t you think?

This picture isn’t mine.

After a few roller coasters, I took the Hogwarts Express from Hogsmeade over to Diagon Alley for lunch. Shortly following was a delicious steak pie and too much butterbeer! For those cream soda lovers out there- butterbeer is heaven.

Pro-tip: If you know you are going to spend a certain amount of money in the park, you can go to the Gringott’s Money Exchange for real Gringott’s bank notes (or a money voucher you can use anytime in the park). If you use the note for less than it’s value, you get muggle change. But you have to watch out for this guy:

Outfit Details:
Shirt: Marni
Skirt: New Look
Kimono: Boutique Find
Shoes: Primark
Bag: Kate Spade
Glasses: Isaac Mizrahi

Roaring Prohibitions

Today in bar prep, I have been “furiously” reviewing Criminal Procedure. All the terminology stirs the imagination towards gangster movies. “Terry” frisks? Search and Seizures? Warrant based off an anonymous tip? You gotta be kiddin me… I got my rights!

You know the Hollywood schmaltz.

In the fervor of the period, here’s today’s selection from my very own rotating crap game. Don’t ask questions. After all, you know the score, kid.

Now scram (if you know what’s good for ya).

Happy Fourth!

MGM actress Lillian Bond with an armload of fireworks for a Fourth of July celebration, Hollywood, California, late 1920s or early 1930s. (Photo by Underwood Archives/Getty Images)

GMR: Reflections

This week the Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando unleashed their new script, formally acknowledging their partnership with their relationship with Turner Classic Movies, or TCM. Though I’ve heard mixed reviews about the extensive contributions of Robert Osbourne that change the Tour Guide dynamics on the ride (and feel WAYS about any changes to the finale film), on the whole I am excited for the Great Movie Ride as it moves into this new iteration of journey. For those of you who know me (or read the bio), you know that after I graduated from college and before I went to law school, I worked as a Tour Guide at the Great Movie Ride for about six months. Besides the requisite handprint on the wall, I don’t think I contributed much to its history, but I do think I can positively say, I had one of the stupidest nicknames given to a movie rider. For over half my time there, multiple people legitimately called me “Boat.”

I wish I was joking. Needless to say, I didn’t choose it for myself (and was actually secretly offended for a little while because I thought the namers had chosen it to make fun of my weight). Finally, I cornered the nickname’s inagurater and made him explain.

At Disney, you have the option to either walk to your area of employment in full costume or in street clothes (and change there). One day, I apparently came in wearing the shorts shown in these pictures, and one of my fellow cast members thought I looked like I should be on a boat. And that was enough.

But while I may have moved on from the nickname, I will always treasure my time at GMR. I hope this new incarnation spurs renewed interest in what can otherwise be considered after-lunch air-conditioned naptime and fosters new generations who love GMR (and just the building itself!) as much as I do. Once a movie rider, always a movie rider.

Shout out to Ryan Dobbs for this one.

Wednesdays for Women: no more data edition

Hi there, so I have run through my data allotment on wordpress, and I’m waiting for a few funds to come through before I can invest in more space for more pictures. In the meantime, I thought I’d tell you about a few women-related stories buzzing around:

1. Karlie Kloss is funding twenty scholarships for high school age girls to take a 2 week coding class with the Flatiron School in New York. Get more info. about #KodewithKarlie here.

2. Ever wondered why there’s no women on money? Rumor has it an elementary schooler did too, inspiring her to write to Obama (eventually winning her a coveted invitation to the annual White House Easter Egg Hunt). This little story has inspired a movement called Women on Twenties. The premise being that a woman replace Andrew Jackson, who history has not been so kind to, since he was not so kind to Native Americans. He might have beat the bank (famous last words), but that only holds so much currency. You can get involved/ vote here if you’re interested. Personally, I have a soft spot for Eleanor (UN Charter!!), but pick your favorite candidate.

3. My best friend has started her own podcast. It’s called “Not an Idiot,” and the premise is that she researches different things she’s interested in to prove to herself she’s not an idiot. I think she’s the only one with doubts. This woman introduced me to This American Life six years ago, and hasn’t stop dreaming about creating her own “radio show” ever since. Try it out! Her voice is pleasant, and her second episode, launched today, is called Write Me In, and it’s about what it takes to create a screenplay.

4. At the moment my two favorite ladies (after MK&A of course–I can’t even get over how much I love The Row and Elizabeth and James) are two Chicagoans by the names of Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin, and let me tell you why. I have always been interested in politics, history, and current events, but I have never found a way to tap into what seems like a maze of information. If I want international news, am I supposed to go to the page of every country? Enter TheSkimm. A novel news concept that basically tells you what’s going on quickly, easily, and without you having to worry about which political party has put their spin on it. It’s basically like your polisci major friend filling you in on what happened over the weekend while you were too busy gushing over the Cinderella movie. And it’s so quick! Just a short email every morning, complete with linked charts and articles (if you care to delve deeper), and you are ready to act like you engaged in the world. If you try it, let me know what you think!

I Descended A Dusty Gravel Ridge…

When I was in High School, I was unabashedly obsessed with the Beat Movement (a fact that will reveal itself in force as the week progresses). With this in mind, there was no way to go to San Francisco without making a veritable pilgrimage to Big Sur. Worthy of an entire love letter- hiking guide- philosophical discussion by Kerouac, the area has continued to inspire in the title track of Death Cab’s latest album (not for much longer!) Narrow Stairs. With all the hubbub, I definitely wanted to check it out, and I was not disappointed. Sun meets the sea meets the mountains and the valley, all in one compendium of sunkissed luxuriance. The weather was perfect, the temperature was perfect, and the sights were stunning. Big Sur is like having everything in one place. Even for someone one as urban-loving as myself, there are a bunch of cute stops for upscale dining in graphically designed perfection you can opt for over more granola choices.

My favorite stop while we were driving through was the Henry Miller Library. Though best known for his salacious novels Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, he also wrote a novel on Big Sur. So nestled in the mountain, a standing homage to his admiration, the library is a peaceful stop on the short path through Big Sur, but certainly one worth making. They have a lot of area-relevant materials, good classic literature, and free coffee (though you might want to make a donation) you can drink on their open wood porch.

As for dressing for Big Sur, that was kind of a challenge. In The Dharma Bums, Kerouac talks about a few days he spent hiking up and down Big Sur, so I wanted to come ready to trek, but on the other hand, I also didn’t know if we’d eat out since it was a day trip. To straddle both, I wore a tunic dress with shorts under it and a cardigan. Sometimes the tunic looked a little too long (learning from mistakes) but on the whole, I think it was good for what I wanted to do, and I managed to avoid sweat stains on the top where it was tucked in (probably something to look out for).

Outfit Details: Tunic/ Dress: Alice + Olivia | Scarf: Oscar de la Renta | Cardigan: H&M | Shoes: Asics Kayanos | Purse: Kate Spade

DON’T FORGET: ECCENTRIC GLAMOUR LINK UP STARTS TOMORROW

A Certain Path

My profound apologies for missing the link up this March. Things have been swamped, my computer broke, work has been all-consuming, and that’s before saying anything about class. The link-up will resume on schedule next month. I still haven’t decided whether to postpone it until later this March, or what… I’m open to feedback on that point.

All the hullabaloo that has been life lately, though stressful, is really exciting. But I can’t help wishing at moments that it would all be over and my future *momentarily* clear. Then again, there’s a certain vivifying pleasure to having the road stretch endlessly before you and endless opportunities waiting to be discovered. I wanted to personify this dynamic and tried to dress in a similar drama to a silent movie heroine. Coupled with these trees and this path with their ominous about-to-envelop-Snow-White appearance, I hope we can share the trepidation and ecstasy that comes with prospects the future holds.

Ethereal Bliss: Valentino S/S:2015 Campaign

I know this came out a few weeks ago, but I’m definitely not over it yet. Valentino’s new campaign, based off none other than the GRAND TOUR, is a sheer delight (with emphasis on sheer). For those of you who weren’t batty English majors like myself, the Grand Tour was a trip that upper class European men took as the sort of cap on a liberal education. It was most popular from the mid-1600s until the invention of rail (which opened it up more middle class people, “how droll”). Traditionally, these young men would visit the famous sites of Western antiquity, making Italy a favorite watering hole.

Given Italy’s unique role in the Tour, Valentino’s choice to take this as inspiration reflects a strong cultural sentiment that keeps Italian fashion distinctly Italian. However, if he has added any historical revision (besides the obvious sea stars), it’s the fact that in this reimagining women get to participate and reclaim what was traditionally an exclusively male pursuit. To this I say Brava!

Isn’t it so dreamy and elegant? Yet everything seems to be worn so casually. Love!!

**obviously, I don’t own these pictures or the rights! So link to Valentino, not me.

C–hat–auqua

If you’ve been following me with any semblance of regularity, you’ve probably figured out by now that I have quite the penchant for hats. Specifically vintage hats. Last count put me at somewhere over one hundred, and seeing how that’s more than I can probably manage myself, I thought it only fair that I start sharing them with you (as learn to work my tripod and the time set on my camera). It seems the season to inaugurate series, and this one is no different.

After reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, I was enthralled by the idea of a “chautauqua.” At first, I mistakenly thought this was the name of the talks which Native Americans had around the campfire. That was ludicrous hogwash (what hogwash isn’t ludicrous, after all). The name actually comes from a city in New York where the origins of this well-meaning adult education movement began. You can read all about its glories here (complete with both Elvis and William Jennings Bryan (at different times)).

As for the hat itself, I regret to say I am unclear as to its actual date of conception. The style and tuille lead me to believe it was probably a 1950s number, but if anyone has a better idea please comment below. I always love learning more about hats, and really any millinery wisdom you’d like to share. Also, if you have any ideas on a name for this hat, they’d be most welcome. Right now I’m inclined to call it “Autumn Blues,” but that does seem so obvious, don’t you think?Accessories: Dress: Burberry London | Earrings: vintage

The Clothesline

Style for people blowing in the wind