Grant Who?

It was Fred Astaire vs. Cary Grant for the title of best dressed man of old hollywood over at The Sartorialist earlier this weak. As usual, I'm late to join to join the fun, but better late than never. If my title didn't tip you off, my vote goes to Astaire.


For Grant, his clothes are the frame. For Astaire, his clothes are part of the artwork.


Astaire's style manages to express his personality or the persona he wants everyone to think he is. Witty, casual, approachable: Astaire's clothes help convey all this. The Sartorialist says Astaire's less-than-perfect looks made him more relateable and attainable to male fans. I say that it goes beyond his genetically created looks and extends to his clothes, which also portray a more welcoming, friendly air than Cary Grant's.

While I admit to giving Astaire bonus points for pulling off that effortless casual chic look that I think is so much harder to pull off than polished formal looks, Astaire is just overall more creative and inspiring with his clothing. He mixes patterns and colors that even I hesitate to mess with, and that says a lot. Colors and patterns are much more difficult to work with, and Astaire handles them with aplomb.

I must also point out that in a google search of images for both actors, most Cary Grant pictures were headshots while Fred Astaire's more commonly depicted his whole body. While this may have been to showcase Astaire's big claim to fame in the dancing arena, it's also important to note that his clothes always seem like an extension of the dance and Astaire himself.

To be fair, I must also admit that I have far from seen all the movies of either of these two actors, etc., etc., and I tend to find Grant's films boring. He's kind of my male Audrey Hepburn: goodlooking, dresses nice, but I find them both terribly boring.





I do like the tie he's wearing in the picture above though.

Inspired by my posts this week discussing color, I decided that I needed to wear some more. The bush and I had a very good conversation in the picture above, by the way.

I've also been kind of on a personal mission lately to wear all the pieces I usually don't wear often because I find them hard to work into an outfit I like. This shirt tunic--three more inches and it could have been a dress!-- is difficult for me to wear because it does the same thing to my boobs as my last outfit. Basically, I think it make them look droopy. Blech! So I employed the same bow trick and voile! The girls appear as they should.

I lunched at Burger King and forgot I had this crown on my head, so I walked around with it for much of today. I kind of like it though.

My Outfit: Click the pics for details.

Other Photos: Yahoo and Google Image Search

Her King-ness,

Ivy Frozen

I just Can't Hide It

I love shoes. The sexy curve of a high heel, the dangerous implications of red or leopard print, the sweetness a bow adds. Shoes are very talkative items of clothing. Perhaps it was the song "Meet Virginia" by Train that turned me on to them. Virginia is decribed as wearing high heels to exercise, which sounded and still sounds terribly glamourous to my young, impressionable mind, especially considering the rest of the song.

Regardless of when my love affair started, I have a deep appreciation for the shoe. Especially pretty, pretty ones! When I find a perfectly beautiful shoe, I get a warm feeling inside. It's like cotton candy or chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven without the carbs.

It's not surprising that shoes are popping up in my art.

It seems they're invading my home though too.

If you have a lot of something, don't try to hide it! Use it for decoration. An easy way to let people know what you love, and you no longer have to curse yourself for buying your large collection everytime you clean.

Jungle Dream Pagoda likes to use pretty vintage frocks for decoration. I personally prefer using shoes, although I will have some signed shirts on the wall soon. Perfect to showcase my book-nerdiness to all, even though my desk turned out to be a little Kim Harrison themed already...

They go great on the window too. The two pairs on the ledge keep the blinds from doing that annoying swingy thing too when it gets breezy. I put some little bow hair clips on those white shoes too. Me likey the results. One of the bows is messed up though and I'll have to get a hot glue gun to fix it, although I'm going to try just using some thread.

Pictures: Clicky on them for more information.

The 1000 Shoes of

Ivy Frozen

Movie Style: Dick Tracy

Dick Tracy. It was a decent movie, but I'm crazy about the costumes.

The colors! That was a clip from a meeting of the bad guys. They may be mean, they may not be the most physically attractive people in the world, but each and every one is impeccably dressed. I need every coat in the movie. Seriously. Look at this old commercial for a McDonalds scratch and win game.

It's proof that the Dick Tracy costumes make everyone look better. Bright coats ad hats rule.

As for the whole film, it kind of came off as sub par despite winning three oscars with five more oscar nominations. It had quite a few of those radom music videos that films that feature music stars tend to have. Despite my love for the woman, I didn't really like Madonna in the film. She's just not a bombshell. She's beautiful, she's sexy, but she's not the boss's gal. I pictured more of a Jessica Rabbit type with some dangerous curves in that role. Plus, the character was kind of random, so it wasn't all Madonna's bad. But I do feel a different actress could have made it work. Al Pacino, playing Big Boi, was wonderful in the movie and his character was similarly a little random. But he made it work.

My favorite character in the movie was The Kid. He was awesome. Impeccably dressed, humorous, and a helpful sidekick. Think suspenders, knickers and newsboy caps all in the same deliciously bold colors seen in the clip above. I'd post some pictures here, but it seems that despite the movies fabulous visuals, which is really it's strongpoint, there arn't too many pictures or even video to be found. But, it appears you can find some of the old Dick Tracy series on youtube.

It's black and white, but the clothes are still luscious. I love every outfit the women in this clip wear.

As for my outfit, it not as colorful as the ones in the film, but it carries a bit of the same charm to me. I've had this top for a while, bought back during my ruffle obsession of 2005 maybe and have had trouble wearing it. I did wear it more back when I first bought it, but now I just feel it makes my boobs look weird. I decided to try tying that satin ribbon around my neck as a bow, and I like it works wonderfully! And the shorts I just love now that I took out the cuff in them. They suffered a similar fate as the shirt, since I decided I didn't quite like wear they ended on my thighs. When I tried them on in the store, I had the aist pulled lower down than it actually fits on me. The shorts are also the first jean shorts I have ever really like, since mose of the other ones in store have a trailer trash vibe to me: short and messy. The whole nice shorts treand that has taken hold is my favorite! I would wear shorts, miniskirts, and minidresses all the time if I could. Oh wait, I already do...

My outfits: click on the pics for more info.

The detective has missed her train,

Ivy Frozen

P.S. Anyone else excited about the upcoming Beowulf film? I'm a little worried though, with them employing the now standard ancient accent, because apparently long ago the whole world had the same English-speaking accent. It also describes Hrothgar as the corrupt king, and i don't remember that from the book. And with such great lines as, "I'm here to kill your monster," well... It does feature Angelina Jolie though, as the voice of Grendel's mother. I've never disliked Angelina in a film, and Grendel's mother promises to be interesting.

Burqini

I always find it interesting to learn about other cultures; I really had no idea before spying this article that swimming in public was an issue for muslim women. But now I remember back in highschool, when we had swimming in P.E., some of the girls weren't able to swim because of their religion. How I envied them*...

But now Muslim woman can swim comfortably and protect their modesty with Burqinis. (Burka plus bikini.) Looks like Burqini was developed for Muslim Austrailian lifeguards. Of course, the burgini isn't just for Muslim women, or lifeguards, as mentioned in the article. Many people are hopping on the burqini train to protect against skin cancer, their burns, and their modesty. It's better than a wet suit since it's two pieces and has a looser fit. I really love that luscious green on the one pictured above.

Anywho, I remember when I was child. My parents would always buy me a one piece, which I thank them for, and I had no problem with except for the whole wet suit plus using the restroom issue. I was so happy when tankini's came out, so I could be covered and not have the hassle that a one piece is when you have to use the bathroom. Then, I saw all the other woman having fun and not caring in their bikini's, so I said, why shouldn't I hop aboard and me happy now =) specially when it's really hot out, and I really don't want to wear anything at all. I no longer fault popstars for skimpy outfits on stage because those stages get HOT as evidenced by their near melting sweat. But really, I just feel better in a bikini.

I imagine that's how muslim women feel, perhaps it's their tankini or even bikini. You can swim and be comfortable. A little pricy, but to be able to swim in public? In the heat, I'd gladly hand over the cash, thinking of it as all the money I never spent on swimsuits, to be able to jump in the neighborhood or local high school's pool. Then, I'd plan all sorts of beach outings.

More on the Burqini:

The Sydney Morning Herald

Buy a Burqini from Ahiida

Images: Click the pics for details

Bikini is still my -kini of choice,

Ivy frozen

*we had swimming, in an outdoor pool, in winter! In the rain! The pool may have been heated, but outside the pool was not.

Welcome to Verona

Romeo and Juliet wrapped to the tune of "Welcome to Atlanta."

Verse 1:
Welcome to Verona where the Capulets hate
The Montagues and they fight almost everyday and dispute,
They hate each others guts and they fight
On stupid little thing like little purple tights

Verse 2:
It’s the Romeo and Tybalt killer fighting scene
These two are fighting hard but they ain’t fighting clean
We want em stop, but they ain’t gonna stop
And they’re all gonna be turned into the cops

Verse 3:
See Romeo and Juliet really like each other,
But their parents don’t really get along with one another
This is a problem for these two star-crossed lovers
Cause they’ll never get to spend time under da covers

Shouting part:
NO KIDS FOR THEM!
NO KIDS FOR THEM! (LET’S TELL THEM!)
OH YES!!! INCREASE THE VOLUME PLEASE! THANK YOU…..

Chorus:
Welcome to Verona where the Capulets hate
The Montagues and they fight almost everyday and dispute,
They hate each others guts and they fight
On stupid little thing like little purple tights
CAPULET! MONTAGUE!
What the ----? I don’t care do you?
They don’t stop, they keep on fighting
They go on till 3 in the morning!!!

Verse 4:
Benvolio is the peaceful one
He doesn’t like to fight with anyone
He doesn’t really want to have any fun
Now this character’s verse is done

Verse 5:
Here’s Mercutio Romeo’s main man
He likes to have fun and he wants Romeo’s hand (what??)
He was slain by Tybalt which wasn’t that fair
Know what? Romeo was mad as a bear!

Verse 6:
See one day Paris came for Juliet
And she was acting like a child in a basinet
She can’t marry Paris because she’s already wed
And she waiting for Romeo to come to bed

Shouting Part:
NO KIDS FOR THEM
NO KIDS FOR THEM
NO WIFE FOR HIMNO LIFE FOR THEM

CHORUS

Verse 7:
Art thou a man? That’s what the friar say
Like Romeo care; he just cry and stay
Run to Juliet this very night
And then run to Mantua and sit tight

Verse 8:
A sail, a sail! A boat's a coming
They say that to the nurse when she is humming
She usually helps Juliet a lot
But lately she has been a flop

Verse 9:
Mercutio’s line “a plague o’ both your houses”
Foreshadows the end of these two louses
We talking bout the Capulets and Montagues
Down with them and their stupid feud

Shouting part:
NOW THEY ARE DEAD
AFTER THEY WED
ON THEIR DEATHBED
THIS IS THE END

CHORUS

Gotta love the movie versions. If I remember correctly, Tybalt had purple tights paired with yellow pantaloons. His pants oddly reminded me of Disney's Snow White's puff sleeves. This is back from 9th or 10th grade English, composed with two buddies for a group project. Our's ruled.

Speaking of period costumes, check out The Costumer's Guide to Movie Costumes to get the lowdown on the luscious costumes used in movies set 100+ years in the past. Plus, it gives you a heads up on movies coming out in the future. If you love historical fashion as much as I do, it's well worth a look.

And for those sewers and crafters among you, check out The DIY Guide to LRP. I'm going to have to make one of the cloaks and the Robin Hood hat. If you're not so good with that type of stuff, you might also peruse it to see how some of the stuff is made. Of course, this is aimed for light role playing, not the hard core stuff. It's scary how awesome the hardcore role players costumes are.

My outfit: Click the pic for details. & no, I'm not really orange and related to oompa loompas, despite what that pic and my driver's liscence pic would have you think.

Peace Out,

Ivy Frozen

How can something so wrong be so right?

Winona says they're wrong, but I love them. What's wrong with wings? How about a little sensitivity for our fairy friends?

But, seriously, it looks like that's just a shirt under the overalls, and the picture could be better. The model looks kind of like she's trying to stare me down and her left eye won't coorporate. Or she just slipped. Or she's having some trouble functioning. They were charging $269 for just the shortalls; they could have afforded to take a better picture.

But I love this outfit and how it suggests butterflies. I did my own inspired outfits, that don't really create the same effect, but I like them anyways.

This one went after the monocrome look, although the top has white dots on it. I'm holding For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison in my hand.

Browse Inside this book Get this for your site

I was going to try to recreate that Tori picture, but I was too self concious and tired after hauling two packs of laminate up the stairs and into my place. And that's a fanny pack around my waist, not a belt. Viva la hands free revolution, baby!

In this photo, I just slipped myself and fell back against the wall, right as the timer went off and snapped the picture. I like the result though--a happy accident. This is the outfit I wore to go to Home Depot and do the same thing I did in the previous outfit. Beleive it or not, but the heels from the other outfit were comfier than these tiny wedge sandles.

Pics: click pics to be carried away for more info.

Dances with the dark side,

Ivy Frozen

Dress Up for Yourself

Matching is vastly overrated.

Free the shoulders!

Because handbags are vastly overated too.

Viva la revolution, baby!

Why do we have to go out somewhere to dress up? In the first outfit, I basically stayed at home. I did run some errands earlier in the day, where I picked up those sweet shoes. (It's hard for me to find shoes that fit me perfectly --both size and budget-- since I have narrow feet. So when I find some, me must have!) But, if anyone I knew had been around when I had this outfit on, they'd be like, "So where are you going?"

On blogs everywhere I see women and fashion bloggers who talk about their wardrobe consisting mostly of PJs and other loungewear because they work from home for a living and thus don't bother to get dressed. And they say they don't buy nice things because they have nowhere to wear it.

I say let the madness stop! Dressing up is not strictly for going out. Dress up at home; dress up for yourself!

But, Ivy! I have kids to think about!

But, Ivy, I need to be comfortable!

All I'm going to say is where there's a will, there's a way. I spent all night typing out my short story Coffee at Midnight in the second outfit featured above. Sweatpants are not the only item of clothing in the world that is comfortable; there are plenty of pretty and comfortable things out there. Plus, this is about you not me. Dressing up for you.

What I Find Comfortable,

You may not.

I like short hemlines because I feel they give me ease of movement, since I hat stuff rubbing against my knees. Others feel that short hemlines inhibit movement, since they have to worry about flashing the undergoodies. Or perhaps they aren't as fond of their legs. And I like to wear those skirts with huge pockets for doing housework since the pockets hold so much. Either that, or I don my apron.

So, I also offer...

Find cool, interesting, or nice sweatpants.

Experiment and rock what you got!

Because when ya look good, ya feel good.

Featured Photos: Click all the pictures to be carried to their flickr pages where further details can be found.

Feeling Good,

Ivy Frozen

Sheet Ghost Skirt

Here's a new skirt I made back at the beginning of July. It's my take on the high wasit trend seen on shorts and jeans. I might make some shorts or wide legged pants with a similar waist, if I ever find fabric I'd like to make them out of. The waistband on this skirt is high, thick, fitted, and has four little buttons in an upside-down trapezoid shape. I'll wear it again soon and have some better pictures up, but I was spending the day with my friend there since this is right before I moved back from my hometown to my college town.

Hmmm... I do love this skirt though.

Here you can see the buttons on the waistband better while I appear to be being choked by one of the ghosts I adore so much.

Here I like the shape the skirt has before I jump, the beautiful billowing. The fabric was made to be this skirt. It's actually a sheet, I think. I got the material for free from the campus recycling resource center. I might head back over there once fall session starts and see if they're still stalking the fabric there. They were talking about giving the fabric back to the Salvation Army since it was just there.

My outfit: jean vest- mom 70s/80s, orange halter- forever 21, skirt- me made =), shoes-old navy, headband- ross, friend- Highschool

Scarlet O'Hara ain't got nothing on me; although that drape dress was awesome, it wasn't made from sheets,

Ivy Frozen

Hats Off to Ya

Edited since on my computer, I couldn't click the hat page for a larger, legible, version. Now, I uploaded it to my flickr so you can click it and view it at a variety of sizes.

Reading Dress A Day and blogger Erin's love for the old sewing books, I can't help but have an affection for them myself. So when I saw this little jem and the Salvation Army, I picked it up.



This would be the 1961 version. While it says it's to encourage women to learn how to sew by showing how easy it is, I think it doesn't exactly achieve that. It doesn't have simple step by step instructions and diagrams that would better achieve that purpose. It's still very helpful though, especially with my about equally retro Fleetwood sewing machine, and perhaps I'll go more into that later.

Today, I'm focusing on my favorite part of this baby, which is the fashion advice. It has a whole chapter devoted to telling you what's acceptable and what is not.

I didn't take a picture of that page, which makes their suggestions seem more like a mandate than a friendly tip, so the above page will have to suffice for now. I'm sure the other page will make an appearance here sometime in the future, while this one is one of my favorites.

If you've been following my flickr, you might have noticed my now ubiquitous big, Forever 21 sun hat I've been wearing practically every day. I love headwear, and since I began my campaign for it's revival in popular clothing, I've begun feeling half-naked without my hair up or something on top of my head.

Since I have such difficulty finding hats, since my hair is so big. And I see no advice in fashion magazines or even the blogs, despite the minor hawking of hats as coming back and pimping out of hats that YOU can wear, unless, you know, your hair swallows it, I was thrilled to find the rules of thumb for hats in the pages of this tome.

Because anything else is just not suitable, dah-link!

There's the attitude I was talking about and there's what the book has to say on hats, complete with examples and diagrams. Apparently my hat doesn't make the grade, being made of straw and metallic thread and not "feathers, flowers, felt, or fur." But the article does strike the nail right on the head with the whole balance thing. They key to a hat is balancing it with the outfit and your silhouette in the outfit. Plus, I think that sentence was just missing a little clause, since they later mention velvet as acceptable.

My outfit: Click the pic for outfit deets and the date I actually wore it.

Sun shaded,

Ivy Frozen

The Golden Flower

My love of the East is well documented on this blog, and today that extends to the Chinese movie, Curse of the Golden Flower.

Watch it subtitled, not dubbed. The dub is terrible, I tell you. Terrible!

It's a movie about a beautiful and perfect looking family that is really rotton at the core and falling apart. Kinda depressing, but oh so beautiful!

The costumes are magnificent. I do wonder how they keep their breasts from falling out the top of those gowns; guess they top is just really tight and stiff. But Gong Li's (the Queen's) robe in that scene where the oldest son is injured is awesome. And the Phoenix and dragon costumes for the Chrysathemum festival are nothing short of divine. But what really sparked my imagination were the pins the court ladies (and the Queen, of course) wear in their hair.

Where Marie Atoinette got her inspiration?

They're actual sharp pins and remind me of brooches. So I decided to give it a go with wearing brooches in my hair.

I think it came out nicely. Since my hair is so curly, I decided to give it a go with my hair down.

Yup, my hair could hold it. The weight just felt a little weird. It also makes hair sink since it's heavier, but certainly do-able. Plus, it's something my curly hair is good for. This pin would have fallen straight out of anyone with straight-hair's hair.

Now is only I could go around in sumputous robes and wrapped in 40 + lbs or fabric, my life would be complete.

My outfit: Same deal as usual. Click the pic for outfit deets.

Standing next to the golden fire hydrant,

Ivy Frozen

Blog Tag

I have internet and I am back, as promised.

It seems I've been tagged by that rockin' lady over at Punky Style. So get ready, ladies and gents, for 7 random things about me, even more random than my usual randomness. But first, I must wax on about the rules of this little game, as copy and pasted from Punky:

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to then report this on their blog with their 7 things as well as these rules. They then need to tag 7 others and list their names on their blog. They are also asked to leave a comment for each of the tagged, letting them know they have been tagged and to read the blog.

Aight! Here we go!


Uno: I think almost everything is better in a foreign language. I'll watch foreign soap operas, but can't stand American ones; I like more foreign pop songs than American. I guess the foreign language factor just ups their interest factor for me, and cultural differences have always interested me.

Dos: I apologize to dolls, stuffed animals, action figures, and any other toy I step on, sit on, knock over, etc. Curse you Rudolph, with your Island of Toys that No One Wanted, and Toy Story.

Tres: I never cut my finger nails because I hate the feeling of when my nails are cut. They break off naturally before they start that creepy curve thing, and I keep them clean.

Quatro: I'm addicted to those shows where they talk about and/or investigate hauntings, but I hate most horror movies.



Cinco: I wish Fantasia and lived up to Walt Disney's original vision, where it would be continually updated and changed featuring new segments alongside old favorites.

Seis: Six is my favorite number and lucky too.

Siete: I love the first Pokemon theme song.



I have the CD and listen to it when I need a boost.


So there you have it, seven random things about me.

But wait!

It seems it took me so long to complete my first tag, that I have also been tagged by lovely The Happy Hippie.

What The Happy Hippie has to say on the matter:

I believe the idea is to post 5 little-known facts about yourself, and then tag
5 more people?

So, here's five little-known facts to go along with the seven random facts to make thirteen facts in all. But we'll just say the thirteenth is actually the fourteenth, to avoid the bad luck stigma and have something in common with hotel floor numbering. But, on to the facts:

1. When I was a little girl, I looked just like my mother when she was my age. Seriously. She showed me a picture once of her at my age and I thought it was a picture of me. Now that I've grown, I favor my father more in the looks department, although I'm still often told that I'm the perfect combination of my parents, both in looks and personality.

2. I do my best creative work after nine or ten at night. For some reason, all becomes clear to me at that point and work as one in a trance. On schoolnights, this is often around my bedtime, which makes it hard for me to sleep, since my brain is so active.

3. I don't smile in pictures because in previous pictures (mostly school pictures), I've been tired which causes my muscles to freak out. So when I'd smile for the picture, my cheek muscles would visably freak out. As a result, I formed a habit of not smiling in pictures, especially when I'm tired. My eyelid also twitches when I'm tired, as do my calf muscles.

4. I hope to open up an online shop, selling my original creations and refashioned clothing, and I just got a new sewing machine. ::insert mischievous look here:: I still need a dress form though. Anyone know where I can get a good one for a good price?

5. I've never been kissed.

There you have it. Now, since I've been tagged twice, and I really don't feel like tagging thirteen blogs--remember the unlucky thing!--, I'm going to tag six blogs--it being my lucky number and all-- because it's right in between the two. All ye tag can choose which of the two tags you wish to complete, if you wish to complete any at all. But beware, for he who breaks the blog tag chain suffers a 1,000 years of-- ergh, what? You won't live that long? Well, complete it or not. 'Tis your choice.

Now, I choose you: The Happy Hippie, Vintage Amore, Candid Cool, The Fray, The Cheap Chica, and I Like Her Style. Use your blog post attack!

My outfit: Same deal as always. Click the pic for outfit deets.

I wanna be the very best as I play with bolding text,

Ivy Frozen

I'm not Dead

No, just without my own internet, so I have to bum campus's. Outside. In the heat. And it is hot. So, I'm not able to spend as much time on the internet right now, and much of the time I do spend is on searching for a job, and doing things for my new condo. But, fear not, for I shall return. Internet is scheduled to go in on the 21st, and I'll pass on my internet tag then.

Until then, check in with me at my flickr photostream and get some crazy street style kicks from wardrobe remix.

My outfit: From back before I moved. Clicky the pic for all the info.

Busy Bee,
Ivy Frozen

P.S. Stripes go with stripes.