Vinyl is a Girl’s Best Friend…
May 18th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Stax of Wax; Analog, Crackle, Pop & Hiss Makes Me Swoon…
Ok, I’m gonna be real with y’all, its Friday night long weekend and I ain’t got no place to be. So, for the last couple hours I’ve been getting reacquainted with some old friends; my vinyl collection. To be honest, I can’t believe I’ve left these old dawgs to sit by their lonesome waiting for me to come round and turn them on.
Riffling through absolute gems I am my own DJ. The Association, Buffalo Springfield, Francoise Hardy, The Police, Harry Belefonte, Peter, Paul & Mary, The Drifters, Billy Idol, The Kinks, Alice Cooper, Queen, Rick James, Peter Tosh, Caiiro Foster, Spitfist, the Rolling Stones. It’s non stop rock in my heart y’all.
They say music can soothe the most savage of beasts and I am a roaring tiger. It’s long weekend here in Toronto and everyone is plain outta sight. I don’t blame them, the idiotic weathermen have predicited that it will be a balmy 30 degrees here in TO. Wow! Beach on Monday, but for now, the almighty tunes! Here are some choice picks from my very own vintage vinyl collection. My Freddie says it best, Don’t Stop Me Now…
Enjoy, my Happy Howlers!
I Love Your Funny Face, Audrey Hepburn
May 4th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Happy Birthday, Darling…
Today, my icon, the beloved star of the silver screen, Audrey Hepburn would have been 92. Wherever, or whomsoever you may be, I hope you’re happy & free.
Time Tested Beauty Tips
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.
Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!
–Sam Levenson
Love is a Vintage Purse
May 2nd, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Especially when that purse is a gift
Who doesn’t love a good surprise? I got one that went straight to the heart; let me set the scene. It’s last Saturday night, my mates are over for a wee pre-drink before we shake our s**t at a Ride the Tiger show down the street.
And that’s when the tricky minx pulled a fast one on me. Amber, showed me a strappy, vintage purse and casually asked me if I dug it. Of course I did; it was a leather pouch with a velvety soft interior & secret pockets.
When she told me it was mine, I lost it! Not only was the purse exactly my taste, this darling girl saw it knew that I would love it.
This post is dedicated to Amber Caribou & her gorgeous heart.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
p.s. Hey Happy Howler’s! This Toronto, vintage enthusiast is now on twitter, so follow me @KavitaHowls! See y’all in the twitterverse. Awooooooooooooo!
Olivia v. Lindsay
April 27th, 2012 § 2 Comments
“I’ve been through it all, baby, I’m mother courage.”
~ Elizabeth Taylor
The die has been cast and it’s snake eyes; Lindsay Lohan will play Elizabeth Taylor in the Lifetime movie, “Liz & Dick”. At first, I was somewhat outraged, but when I realized that its probably going to be a made for TV, flash in the pan, I was mollified. Maybe I’m underestimating LiLo. She’s an absolute mess entrenched in scandal after scandal and she’s all of 25. It’s no secret that Elizabeth herself was hounded by the press due to her personal fiascos. Perhaps its the bane of the child actress to live an unbalanced life in the spot light making them out of touch with the reality of common people? Both Liz & LiLo were stung with the acting bug from a tender age and that could explain their panache for drama. If anyone knows what it’s like to battle the booze, Lohan may have the chops. But in terms of integrity, grace and elegance, I have to admit, I find Lindsay to be lacking on all fronts. Yes, she is a pretty girl with a simliar bone structure to Liz, but is that enough? I nicked this snap off the web of Lindsay styled to look like a young Liz, I’m assuming in the vein of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.
It’s really not doing anything for me.
But if an actual motion picture were to be penned for the immortal beauty, who then would be a preferential candidate to deserve this coveted role? My money is on Olivia Wilde. Olivia possess that burning gaze which penetrates through each character she plays. I loved her on House as Dr. Remy ’13′Hadley. With perceived ease, she encapsulated a very complex character who was a lesbian doctor, battling Huntington’s disease, yet never losing her moral core of steel. Wilde has proven to me that she can take on the dynamic yet complicated role of Lady Liz.
Wilde has been blessed with a feline elegance, smouldering eyes and striking cheekbones; the resemblance is uncanny. If you don’t believe me, this faux movie poster by Pascal Witaszek (Movielicious) should having you cheering for Team Wilde.
Gorgeous!
(The comparison is fair as this photo shoot is based on COAHTR also)
But one question remains, who will play Dick? I’m sure some Hollywood meathead will get the role, who will never achieve that eloquence and bravado Sir Richard echoed. If only Bill Murray were 20 years younger! Watch that scene in Scrooged where the hobos think he’s Burton; that impersonation was aces! Again, see below and judge for yourself…
Here’s a link from my open letter to Dame Elizabeth Taylor upon hearing of her untimely demise. She will never be surpassed, only imitated.
http://howlingantiquity.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/larry-fortenskys-tears-the-death-of-elizabeth-taylor/
Blammo! It’s Shazzamo! From Paris to Pittsburgh with Love
April 22nd, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Loving the sounds of les Folies Bergères to homespun Rock & Roll
For Woody’s latest award winning opus, he resurrects an axis mundi & shows us the centre of the universe, circa. 1920′s Paris. Nothing ignites the era & its senses than the unrivalled sassiness of Josephine Baker. La Conga Blicoti with its infectious tempo conjures images of slinky ebony ladies, shimmering in beaded flapper gowns, to the drums-beat. Their exotic flair was captured with the same dexterity that had ensnared the embracing Parisiennes.
Across the pond, the Yanks were behind the times. But, as soon as Rock n’Roll hit the scene, they were slaves to the rhythm. Look no further than a Marty Scorsese flick; the man loves his soul, motown & Stones. I finally watched The Departed & even racist Irish, Boston Gangsters will still have LaVern Baker playing on their jukeboxes. Tweedle Dee is just dripping with nostalgia; velvety & thick.
The good guys went down with the bad, but a brutal justice was served. Well Well Well…And who better than NYC John to lay down a gritty track to this Cops vs. Robbers backdrop. Not set in the 70′s as per usual with Marty, but check this; the video here shows a snap of John & Yoko be-specked in signature glasses, floppy hat and hand down the chiffon blouse is pure 70′s bravado. John’s proving how yummy Yoko is…
“She looks so good, I could eat her”
Film, fiction, fashion, art; all are methods striving to represent life as opposed to imitating it. I managed to dig up some intriguing bios on Pollock, Picasso & Guggenheim. Peggy had an exceptional eye & bold instincts when it came to amassing her breathtaking collection. Tinkling through her life’s ebbs & flows, Autumn Leaves by Erroll Garner, drifted overhead reorienting the senses to marvel at these masterpieces with renewed awe.
Hardly a wallflower, Peggy posed in silky gowns & turbans during the Roaring 20′s.
Mad Men, A Little Kiss
March 31st, 2012 § Leave a Comment
The 60′s are Swinging onto Madison Ave
The return of Mad Men took me by surprise. Hiding for 17 months, I’d moved on, found my vintage fashion fix elsewhere. But when I heard it was coming back, it sparked my imagination discovering it was set in the late 60s. Finally I was gonna see Carnaby Street Mod’s or Sunshine Drenched Flower Children. YES! But I was getting ahead of myself.
What I got was just a taste. A perfect mouthful of what lay ahead in terms of how these ultra hip subcultures seduce these ad men. None other was the gorgeous, rhinestone collared, chiffon winged, LBD worn by Mrs. Draper (nee Calvet). What a total renard. Megan is an absolute French fox. She was right, that party did make people what to go home and have sex!
How hot was this?
C’est incroyable et tres cool…
*sigh…I want that dress.
It was the highlight, but there were some other gems I found either genius in terms of the times and the characters wearing them. How good is Roger? To me Roger can do no wrong (except the Black Face & the drinking the haterade for the Japanese thing; not cool, man). Roger not only has the best one liners, but his suits are cut to perfection. That man can wear the hell out of a grey 3 piece suit. This epsiode gave him some arm candy in the hilarious yet experimental chic the 60s are infamous for. That hair and block printed dress tickles me on a multitude of levels.
Its no surpirse the best outfits of the show were at the party. But not all of them, well, are cool. I present to you, the squares…
Wanh, wanh! That checkered jacket is ghastly! Game show host worthy attire from the prematurely balding Pete Campbell. I can’t stand this snake & show him no mercy. In the background, a sea of beiges and blah. I just hope Trudy doesn’t sport this tiring doo like Peggy does with her flip out. God love her, but change it up, darling!
I really, really tried to find a shot of Joanie in the pink dress. I thought the print was atrocious, but she hit it out of the park thanks to the tailoring; it hit every curve and hugged that hour glass figure. Honorable mention goes to Megan’s tangerine dress and that tres chic hair style. My total girl crush this season until the penny drops.
Bisous, bisous xo
p.s. I’ve shared the link for the original version of Zou Bisou Bisou. Sweet dreams!
Next time on Mad Men…
And the Winner Is…
February 28th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
The Artist!
C’est Magnifique! Not only did The Artist win Best Picture, it won four other Gold Baldies including Best Costumes. I adore period pieces and this years nominees illustrated their incredible skill & historical knowledge of the epoch they were emulating. Although it was filmed in Black & White, the grandeur of the 20′s roared loudly in the silence of the Artist. Jean Dujardin was a dapper incarnation of Douglas Fairbanks. Whether down on his luck or charming the crowd, Dujardin was the epitome of class in his finely tailored suites. Berenice Bejo stunned as the vivacious Peppy Miller. Draped in silks, sequins, netting and fur, she shone as America’s latest sweetheart.
As much as I cheered for the Artists costume designer, Mark Bridges to win, my heart secretly hoped for Anonymous to take the statue. If you haven’t seen this controversial, yet convincing film about who Shakespeare really was, its a must see. The costumes are other worldly! The netted collars on Queen Elizabeth were enough to make me gasp. The Duke of Oxford’s finery was stitched in leather, not to mention the intricate bead, jewel and braid work that each character bandied about in. Corsets not withstanding, the boning work on the gowns must have been a study in patience; I’m am baffled, yet thoroughly impressed by the immense talent of Lisy Christl.
Other than W.E., the Wallace Simpson/King Edward love story, I wasn’t bowled over by the other nominees. The elegant silhouettes and the remarkable resemblence of Andrea Riseborough and the alleged Nazi f**ker, Simpson rightly earned its nomination. I managed to snag a number of stills and see for yourself.
As for Hugo and Jane Eyre, I just felt that the designs were either mediocre or uninspiring. Jane Eyre has been reproduced countless times; the last decent one was with Charlotte Gainsbourg and William Hurt. Did we really need another incarnation? It was all bonnets and petticoats, which I’m sure are a nightmare to construct, but sadly a yawn once actualized. As for Hugo, the only exception was the art directing and costumes of the Trip to the Moon scene. Gotta love Marty for his meticulous attention to detail; I have no doubt in my mind that if colour film had been available to Méliès, that scene would sing with the same saturation. Whimsical & elegant, I must give Sandy Powell credit for this. An honorable mention must go to Sonia Grande for Midnight in Paris. Although not nominated, she also brought the 20′s back to life, with the City of Lights as the perfect backdrop. I drooled over every flapper gown and swooned over Hemmingway’s mustache and candor.
Enjoy the pictures while you nibble your leftover Oscar Party Food. Check out my dear friend Paula Pott’s blog, I See Hungry People for the delicious Best Picture themed dishes she whipped up for her thankful guests.
http://ptpotts.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/oscar-party-food-2012/
Betty v. Veronica
February 23rd, 2012 § Leave a Comment
The line has been drawn.
Which is it? You must have an opinion by now; these girls have been at for years. I think you can tell who I’m feeling.
Veronica Lodge hands down & all the way.
That fine fox is exactly what she says she is. She’s fiercely honest & I respect that. Ok, she’s such a Bad Girl. She’s so awful, but you just can’t help recognize how hot that is; she doesn’t give a f**k. A jet black femme fatale with an enviable & inexhaustible wardrobe; An American Blue Blood.
But she is a terror. She’s cunning and a manipulator to boot. A spoiled brat through & through, thanks to Daddy {Mr} Lodge funding the tantrums. Down right cruel to Betty, Ronnie will put down her blue collar bestie & nick Archie any chance she gets. Tsk, tsk, tsk.I’m not blind.
But Betty? Come on. She’s sweet as apple pie and is constantly getting dissed. It’s a tragedy; nice people shouldn’t have to finish last. But Betty needs to step it up. If Veronica’s being a massive biotch, don’t hang with her. Hang out with Midge, or Chuck’s girlfriend, Nancy. Big Ethel’s a gentle giant, hit her up at Pop Tate’s.
Archie is a punk. As much as Veronica lures him away, he goes. Maybe he’s just not that into you? Basically, Betty needs some self respect, pronto! And until this is cultivated, she’ll always be this tragic figure to be pitied and bullied.
On a brighter, candy coated comic book page, there is always a sunny side of the street in Riverdale. Betty & Veronica seem to always work through their differences. Immortal teenagers who can drop out to the Beatles together. But there is one among them I favor the most….
Ta daaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
I thought as much…
Hubba Bubba! I knew it!
Until next time Happy Howler’s…
“Duh, stay outta Riverdale!”
Happy Valentine's Day!
February 14th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Go, go, go, go Go, go, go, go Go, go, go, go!
My metal lover & I wish all you Headbanger’s a ripping, shredding, killer Valentine’s Day xoxo
Editing by Chad Kerswill
Photos by Kavita
