Movie to Watch: The September Issue

"I think what i often see it that people are frighteened about fashion. Because it scares them or make them feel insecure they just put it down. On the whole people that may say, the meanny things about our world I think that's usually because they feel, in some ways, excluded or, you know, not a part of 'the cool group' so as a result they just mock it".--Anna Wintour


I have been wanting to see this film for what felt like ages so I finally made a point to watch it when I saw that it was on Netflix Instant. Boy am I glad I did. For those of us who are intrigued with the fashion world, this will be sure to at least temporarily satisfy your cravings for couture and everything that has to do with it. Lately the idea of working for a top fashion magazine in New York City has been really appealing to me and I have been looking into several internships for potential opportunities. So I thought it would be an appropriate time to watch a documentary that takes you behind the scenes of the bible of all fashion magazines: Vogue. I consider Vogue's one-of-a-kind fashion spreads to be works of art and would absolutely love to be a fly on the wall through the entire process, from the original idea to the printing press. Right now, The September Issue is as close as I am going to get, and I soaked up every minute of it.

Anna Wintour is the legendary editor in chief of the American Vogue and rules the magazine as if it were her kingdom. In a certain aspect, it is her kingdom, and everyone else working for the magazine are her subjects. What Anna says, goes, and quite often goes to the cutting room floor. The film shows the incredible amount of money and effort it takes to create the September issue, the largest issue of the year, and in the film (which takes place in 2007) they are creating the largest issue to date. Grace Coddington, a former model with Vogue (who ended her career after a car accident which left her needing extensive plastic surgery) and creative director of the magazine pours so much effort and into every fashion shoot and on several occasions becomes too passionate about her work to resist standing up to Anna in an effort to save it from the cutting room floor. One photo in particular was casually vetoed by Anna which left Grace absolutely devastated. The picture is hauntingly beautiful and painstakingly detailed and elaborate. By turning it down, Anna loses the company a good 50,000 dollars. That is the power that she holds at her fingertips. Often called "the ice queen," Anna is inspiration for Meryl Streep's character in The Devil Wears Prada. Though they both hold many similarities, in my view, Anna is a bit softer than Miranda Priestly in Prada...a bit. The film takes you to Rome where Sienna Miller, September's cover girl, is shot, and Paris, the fashion capital. If you're a fashion maven, or just immensely enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada, I reccomend giving The September Issue a try. I guarantee, you'll never look at an issue of Vogue the same again.


Sienna Miller on the cover of the September issue.


Anna Wintour and Sienna Miller at the film's premiere.

Wintour and creative director Grace Coddington, who plays a large role in the film.

My Proud Moment

I just got off the phone with one of my best friends who is all the way in New Zealand right now with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) and heading to India in less than a week. I felt even more encouraged in my current artistic endeavors after our conversation and freshly inspired. You know when someone is doing so great you almost feel guilty for not doing better in your life? I didn't quite feel that way, but I did realize that I haven't been prioritizing things in my life that I should be. Sometimes I get caught up in myself and stop thinking about all the people in need in this great big world. After that and visiting my paintings today for the first time in their new location and seeing (to my surprise) that they made up the entire window display I am once again excited about painting!

For those who don't know, I am currently showing my Haitain collection of oil/mix media paintings in an effort to raise money for disaster relief. 50% of proceeds will go to Child Hope International (www.childhope.org), an orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I am getting really excited about my fundraiser even coming up on the 21st! The paintings are now on display in an amazing furniture store in downtown Medford. They look beautiful there! I went to get my picture taken with them for an upcoming article in Joy magazine and my mom had fun taking pictures of the photoshoot!


My babies!





Getting situated





Getting my picture taken in the window display!

Forever Pretty: A Celebration of Mom

"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his." ~Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895

My friends, it is mother's day, and in honor of those beautiful, courageous women we call mom, I am dedicating this post to my mom, the woman who introduced me to what true prettiness is.



Ever since she was a girl, my mom has been an amazing seamstress. Through highschool she made many of her own clothes including her prom dress. She even made her wedding dress! I have never possessed that talent and am in constant amazement of her skills with a needle and thread. For those who don't now her, my mom has an alter ego: her name is Molly Ringwald... well more like Andie Walsh. My mom was introduced to Pretty in Pink after she was married when someone told her the main character in the movie doesn't only look just like her, but IS her in highschool. Andie sews all her own clothes including her prom dress and could be my mom's twin when they were both that age. I love the movie and watch it all the time (who would NOT want Duckie as a best friend!). Therefore, I was SO excited when I heard Molly Ringwald had a new book coming out called Getting the Pretty Back: Friendship, Family, and Finding the Perfect Lipstick. She dedicates the book to "All women. Our mothers and our daughters" and discusses everything from beauty, personal style, and travel, to entertaining, motherhood, and friendships. She encourages every woman to become "the sexiest, funniest, smartest, best-dressed and most confident woman you can be." I bought this book a few days ago and can't wait to dive into it! It is a great mother's day gift (for those who are late in getting one) and something both mothers and daughters can enjoy together and get that pretty back!


My mom's twin wearing her homemade prom dress in Pretty in Pink.


Me and mommy back in the day

My gorgeous mom and I now.

Mom's mother's day flowers : )

The Look: Casual Structure

Blazers with shorts has become quite the trend this season. The idea is warm weather casual with polish. Gwyneth Paltrow rocked the look at the premiere of Iron Man 2 (which I watched last night by the way). Don't be surprised if I refer to her repeatedly in this blog as she is my favorite actress and oh so classy and chic.

Blazers and shorts can be dressed up or down as these photos reveal.

Via http://www.people.com/people/gwyneth_paltrow/photos#20779497

My version. I have this boyfriend blazer from Target in black and white. I just got this white one and have worn the black one many times with multiple different looks through the fall and winter and now into the spring. It has become a wardrobe staple.

The black version.

via http://www.target.com/Blazers-Jackets-Womens-Tops-Clothing/b/13034071/ref=sc_fe_l_3_3692501_4?node=13034071

That Dress

Tomorrow marks the one month countdown till I GRADUATE and I finally received my graduation dress in the mail yesterday so I thought I'd share the story behind it:

Last December I visited New York with my family. The first time we passed the Saks Fifth Avenue window I was stopped in my tracks by a stunning window display of red gowns. One dress in particular made me want to walk by Saks every day and stop by the window and stare and take in its beauty. I imagined myself wearing that dress at some big Academy Awards type event. I took note that it was a Monique Lhuillier design and months later I still couldn't stop thinking about it so I decided to peruse the Monique Lhuillier website and to my utter delight I found a wedding dress version of the exact same dress! Yes, I had found my dream wedding dress. Fast forward a few more months and as I was flipping through a fashion magazine I saw for the first time the new ad campaign for the H&M Garden Collection and low and behold I had met my shorter, more affordable match! The dress looked like a shorter version of the same red dress I saw in the window display months ago. And the best part was it came in both cream and red and was only 40 dollars! I was ecstatic! I had been looking for a graduation dress and I knew instantly that this would be perfect. After all, I know getting married isn't going to be happening ANY time soon for me so the second biggest event to a wedding would probably be graduating right? And I will be getting up in front of a crowd of people just like a wedding (even if it's only for a few seconds and my gorgeous dress will be hidden underneath my graduation gown) so of course I want to be wearing a beautiful little dress to commemorate the event.


The Monique Lhuillier masterpiece, aka my dream wedding dress

My version


The dress was sold out by the time I could even get access to an H&M store but I was able to order one from Ebay (we won't mention that I paid over twice the price...it was well worth it).


The gorgeous rose appliques are my favorite part of the dress.

A sneak peek


The red Monique Lhuillier, the dress that started it all.


I've had this birthday card forever and the red dress reminds of the this dress on the card.

A Case of the Blues

I'm loving vibrant shades of blue right now (especially the rich cobalt color in the heels below). Here are a few things I've had my eye on...


If you saw my previous post you won't be surprised why this dress immediately struck my fancy. I love the big dramatic one shoulder look and the subtle shade of blue doesn't compete with the strong silhouette. (Nicole Miller, bluefly.com)


I am obsessed with these striking platform pumps so don't be surprised if you happen to run into me sporting them in the near future...(Steve Madden, stevemadden.com)


This nail color grabbed me the second it caught my eye. I have never seen this exact shade in a nail polish so of course (being the nail polish collector that I am) I had to purchase it. (Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear nail color in Pacific Blue)


Rompers are my new favorite thing. I'm in love with everything about this romper, from the shade to the cut to the exposed zipper detailing. (Urban Outfitters, urbanoutfitters.com)