CineStyle: Eyes of Laura Mars

One of my favorite fashion films is Eyes of Laura Mars c.1978. The story was conceived and co-written by John Carpenter. Faye Dunaway is Laura Mars, a high fashion photographer on top. Laura is controversial and fearless and creates images of violence through fashion editorial. Irony intended in this thriller as photographer Laura begins to see psychic visions (through the eyes of the killer) of the violent deaths of her friends and colleagues before they happen. 


Enter, Tommy Lee Jones, the detective who is investigating the series of murders and becomes intimately involved with Laura. It is a classic psuedo erotic thriller, a formula we saw so often throughout the 80's with its surprise twist ending.  

I of course adore the film mainly for its fashion and styling. The production design was by the late Gene Callahan and costume design by Theoni V. Aldredge. Aldredge also designed for The Great Gatsby and The Rose starring Bette Midler. Sadly Aldredge passed away last year January 2011. The fashion shoot scenes of the film and the still photos and exhibit photograph were images by Helmut Newton.  

Director Irving Kershner used mirrors to keep things tense and reference Laura's frightening visions throughout the film. Whether you believe it is intentional or not, I see a self-deprecating eye on the excess and end of the disco era. Or mindless entertainment. Who cares? One thing is for certain the film is beautiful to behold frame after frame.

Mexico: Art, Craft, Passion

I find inspiration everywhere as does anyone engaged in the world. This weekend I spent much of my time at the Egyptian Theater for the MEXICAN CINEMA: GUADALAJARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN LOS ANGELES.

Botellita de Jerez back in the day

My favorite film was "Naco Es Chido" a smart mockumentary in which director Sergio Arau (A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN) revisits his old musical group Botellita de Jerez, pioneers of “guacarock” in the 1980s. Naco es Chido reflects a former album title and is a term that came to mean being Mexican is cool. Despite repression and quite a lot of political and social resistance Botellita's introduction of their brand of punk/cumbia/bluesy/rock n'roll to Mexico in the early 80's would pave the way for many "spanish rock" acts commonly known today. 

Fellow members of Botellita de Jerez co-star along with the fabulous Yareli Arizmendi,best known internationally for Like Water for Chocolate. She portrays the brainchild & manager of the band's reuniting 30 years later. Both Arau and Arizmendi appeared to speak at an industry panel and for a Q&A for the film showing. Not only are Arau and Arizmendi super talented, but super stylish as well, which brings me back as usual to my love of style and design, particularly when it comes to fashion. 

All images are from Taller Flora 2010

I recently discovered another Mexican artist true to roots but revolutionizing fashion through eco minded and ethical co-operatives with local communities practicing indigenous textile practices. Taller Flora, created by Carla Fernandez, literally translates to Workshop Flora which is exactly what it is. A traveling workshop working with local art coops of differing towns every two months and engaging in projects grown out of their collaboration. Taller Flora celebrates indigenous dressmaking techniques, while re-imagining the traditional. Resulting in timeless contemporary clothing.

 Erin Lewis for Taller Flora 2009

Fernandez' influence and utilization of indigenous Mexican craft are inspiring collaborations from other fashion designers in the industry. Erin Lewis created a menswear mini collection for Taller Flora after workshopping with Fernandez to mine the historical processes textile techniques. The results, as seen above, are pretty fabulous!

 Carla Fernadez' 2011 Ready to wear line.

Carla Fernandez' ready to wear line merges modern industrial manufacturing with craftsmanship.  Read more on Fernandez and Taller Flora in this interview: "Future Folk." Taller Flora serves the community, conserves resources and is high fashion.  Who says it cannot be done?

Field Trip: La Bomba in Long Beach!

Hello Darling Dolls! Sorry I have been away so long! I've been working hard making the Frida Collection and starting Bridal goodies for y'all! I had to share a recent field trip I had in Long Beach during the much hyped Carmaggedon here in Los Angeles (the weekend closure of a the 405 Freeway that connects the coast line from north of California to LAX airport).

Carmaggedon turned out to be pretty cool for a couple of reasons. Angelenos and Southern Californians stayed home! No crazy traffic neighbors interacting with each other and people operating on a very local scale for a change!

I however took advantage of the much locally hyped  $4 JetBlue "Over the 405" special promotion where there were two round trip flights between Long Beach Airport and Burbank Airport just north of Hollywood. My mom accompanied me on a short day trip to Long Beach for the hell of it! We had a very fab and fancy lunch at Gladstones followed by my mad dash to the famous 4th Street's vintage shopping!

I had heard the stories about La Bomba, but man oh man was I psyched to actually get there! Not only is this store impeccable, well organized, color coded and absolutely inviting in every way, the staff is Super cool, friendly and let's face it quite dashing!

 

Nothing excited me more than the fact that I actually happened upon La Bomba the one weekend a month that they have The Pile open in the back yard. Literally a small mountain of goodies that you sort through taller than me!

The proprieter requests that you remove your shoes to climb the pile, i was wearing a dress and just ill prepared but next time I will have my climbing gear!

Man oh man did i find some fabulous dresses and fabrics to SweetLeigh ReFashion for the Frida Collection! Stay tuned for fab millinery and accessories from my haul! In the meantime GO TO La Bomba! It is for lack of a better term, the Bomb!

NYC - Curvy in the Blog-O-Sphere Rocked!

Courtney Williams

I am in love with Courtney Williams founder of Sweet Roll Entertainment for putting together a New and Aspiring Bloggers Workshop, "Curvy in the Blog-O-Sphere". An event absolutely worth traveling 3,000 miles for. Fabulous curvy women with great ideas, talent and lots of humor endeavored to be better in the blog-o-sphere. Courtney lead a fabulous discussion and exercises to sharpen our skills and become more 'well rounded' in subject matter, focusing ourselves and our purpose!

Alicia Goodwin Rockin Lingua Nigra

Selenia Moore

Knickie D!

Nikki "BeDecadent" Buchanan

I was flanked by Alicia Goodwin the designer behind my new favorite jewelry line, Lingua Nigra; Selenia "CT Diva" Moore, Stylist and Blogger of Better than Average a great resource blog offering reviews on Boutiques and products serving Curvy women!; and Knickie D a jounalist, Spoken Word poet and natural born stylist, her smart savvy socio-political take on fashion, relationships and pop culture can be heard on Reverbnation or check out her blog. We were treated to an interview with Nikki Buchanan, independent Fashion Artist of Decadent Industries a colorful line of body conscious leggings tops and dresses as well as body products. We were all happily gifted a sample of Nikki B's amazing Mango shea butter that I have been using ever since. More to come on that interview with Nikki B!

Curvy Bloggers!

Along with the opportunity to interview Nikki B and Courtney herself we spent a lot of time on who we each are as bloggers, who we serve, becoming savvy about platform, hosting, tagging posts, external feeds and subscriber tools. We also focused on some blogger basics like staying current, creating a dialogue, and of course being uniquely yourself! I received so many excellent suggestions and ideas and am grateful to have met so many fabulous women. Thanks again to Courtney and at Linger Lounge in Brooklyn who hosted us.

The event was fantastic and I will probably have to make another trip east for one of Sweet Roll Entertainment's upcoming events by years end!

New York State of Mind

fffweek by Vanessa Leigh on Polyvore

It's Finally hear dolls! Sonsi Full Figured Fashion Week! I am packing a bag and heading east for FFFWeek! Here's an idea of my clothing inspiration for the extra long fashion forward weekend. Comfort rules while attaining to remain chic while beating the heat! What do you think of my traveling wardrobe?


This month the positive body image advocate behind Vogue Curvy and editor of Vogue Italia, Franca Sozzani has put three plus sized models on the cover of the June issue of Vogue Italia. Models Candice Huffine, Robyn Lawley and Tara Lynn are showing off their curves in a gorgeous black and white lingerie shoot by Steven Meisel. Sozzani also currently has a campaign on the site against pro anorexia websites. I am grateful to such a healthy celebration of the female form in the world's dominant fashion magazine. Vogue Italia has had issues completely dedicated to Black models in 2008 and more recently provacative issues with controversial editorial shoots around the themes of rehab and the chase for youth through plastic surgery. Vogue Italia is easily the vanguard and representing fashion in a way that respects it as an art form. As we know art should be available to everyone. Let's hope couture and rtw by our favorite high end designers will be closely following Vogue Italia's lead when it comes to size acceptance. If Lanvin can tackle children's clothing they should certainly be able to consider full figured women as a potential market, as we are ready and willing.

I will arrive for a blogger's luncheon on the 18th and the Fashion Week Finale Fashion Show, and then look forward to three days of quality time with one of my favorite cities! Of course a trip to NYC would not be complete without a trip to the Metropolitan Museum for the Alexander McQueen Exhibit.

I'll also be spying for my major fashion crush Daphne Guinness and checking out the famous Re/Dress NYC in the flesh. I suspect a mini spree wll be in tow this trip.


Social Media is an amazing thing. Two months ago I did not know that there was such a thing as Full Figured Fashion Week.  How awesome is this small social media world of ours that I'm looking forward to meeting in the flesh people who have already inspired me to change my life and pursue my dreams by their mere existence. It is a beautiful thing! If you are in NYC and would like to touch base send me a line! To a fabulous month darlings!

Grease

Grease by Vanessa Leigh featuring ASOS

Aso
$46 - asos.com

Day dresses-eShakti.com
$60 - eshakti.com






Alright Darlings! It's getting tot hat time where I have to decided what to wear to Grease! The above are my option inspirations. Obviously I tend toward the sweet but love a pink ladie in any incarnation. Opinions?

grease lightening!

On June 24, some of my girlfriends and I will be attending the 2nd Annual Grease Sing-A-Long at the Hollywood Bowl I have loved this movie from the age of 6. My mother says that I danced down the aisle when the movie came out in 1978 and I remember putting the two album soundtrack on the record player repeating every song. 

A long time has passed but I am the same giddy kid in love with the same summer luvin story. When I think of the movie Grease I want to be a Pink Lady, which one is to be determined. But a decision must be made soon cuz I am making my Grease ensemble to be sure!

In the mean time a lot has come onto my plate. I have been given an amazing opportunity to contribute my business card to a friends product in a celebrity swag bag. Wow. Of course this calls for a photo extravaganza and some new postings for My Etsy shop. I just recently met some awesome new folks on the same page and path and became an insider to one of my favorite summer arts series. And equally exciting, a new curvy bloggers luncheon invitation spurred me to go for it and attend NYC Full Figured Fashion Week. Plane ticket bought and can't wait to meet, engage and learn from other curvy fashion lovers, writers and designers. 

These opportunities have come quickly and while I am still working on new merchandise and original designs. I have had to step up and I am proud of myself for doing so. Opportunity knocks and I for the first time in a long time, I am ready and waiting. The last week has definitely felt like grease lightning.


Keeping up with all that is still scary a happy challenge, but more importantly, what to wear!?