"It takes a lot of money to look this cheap" Dolly Parton

I think this will be my last fashion post for now. And what I better fashion icon to end it with then the adorable miss Dolly Parton singing a duet with Burt Reynolds in one of my old time favourite movies. The first lines say it all:

I like fancy,frilly things
High-heeld shoes and diamond rings
Ragtime bands and western swing
And sneakin' around with you


Thank you for the inspiration always, miss Dolly!

Balenciaga

Ahhh, Cristóbal! He was ahead of his time. His strong lines, well constucted corsets and deconstucued hemilines. I remember being engulfed in Zha Zha Gabor's biography (she was an indulgent passion of mine) was in a dramatic shouting match with one of her many husbands when he pushed her from the penthouse of the Las Vegas hotel they were staying in. And it was only the strong stiching of her Balenciaga gown that saved her from plumetting into the Vegas strip. I know this was probably exagerrated but it made me really interested in vintage Balenciaga. I did a few small oils based on Balenciaga patterns, which were very experimental at the time but it justified my indepth research. Of course today the brand is headed by Nicolas Ghesquiere. I make a habit of going and petting his bags at Holt Renfrew, they relax me somehow. Anyway, here is to you Mr. C! And Mr. N!

Europe Bound: The Sky is the Limit

Some good travel news from the New York Times. It looks like low cost carriers will be a reality between transatlantic routes with the "open-skies agreement" that is coming into effect next week. I am always jealous of European travellers and their pick of low cost carriers. There are even a number of great deals from Bulgaria. I flew to Venice for a price of an dinner entree last summer. So, hopefully this will become a reality on this side of the pond eventually. I am off to make tiramisu and then will do my weekely fashion post-Balenciaga!

Edith Head

I was walking down Granville street a few years ago, when I got stopped by the fashion editor of the Vancouver Sun and her photographer. They were doing a piece on "street fashion" and took a photo of my outfit. It was then presented in an article where three designers got to deconstruct my outfit. I got mostly good remarks, black flared slacks, buttoned up 1940's shirt, and my Edith Head glasses. One of the designers said exactly that, which warmed my heart. I adore Edith's designs and take a great deal of inspiration from her films. The way she built Kim Novak's character in Vertigo, even her tight blond bun made me dizzy. The effervescence of Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. Bette Davis' coutured hemlines echoed "Buckle up it is going to be a bumpy ride" better then any special effects would. Miss Head was able to personify each director's idea with original designs and leave us some great quotes. You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it. Thank you Miss H!

Vivienne Westwood

I have been looking at some of my favourite designers lately. I find I get inspired equally by an artist, a writer or a designer. A few years ago I saw Vivienne Westwood's exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. I absolutely loved her mixture of punk brashness and haute couture sensitivity. Later I did a collection of drawings inspired by her. And today, I find myself looking for inspiration at her designs all over again. Thank you miss V!

Update: I have decided to start a weekly blog entry of a favourite designer. Stay tuned!

Dreams

I have been burning the candle at both ends lately. This expression feels very fitting. Even my dreams are busy. And they are not even surreal or exraordinary, just busy, scheduled and a little anxious. Very close to reality.

The Disappearance of the Office Phone Ring

Interesting article in NY Times about the disappearance of the ring of the office phone. It is true, I rarelly get voice mails at work, it seems to be all email these days. Ironically I have set my phone's ring at work on "old fashined tone". It reminds me of my grandmother's office at the Sofia University where I spent most of my childhood babysat by professors inbetween their lectures. There was a lady, I think her job title was "typist" or "машинопистка" who was constantly typing on an old fashined typewrter with long manicured fingernails. Another sound that has completelly dissappeared.

Eyeglasses

Last week I went to dinner with some friends. There was karaoke in the back of the room and I found myself needing to squint to see the words people were singing. E. gave me his glasses to try and to my surprise I could see the karaoke text perfectly! I have always thought I had 20/20 vision, so I was nervous and excited to get my eyes checked. Well, it turns out I don't REALLY need them but the optometrist recommended wearing them if "I am driving at night during a bad storm" or "sitting really high in the bleachers during a hockey game". Both are activities I don't often enjoy but the narsisist in me has always wanted to wear glasses as a fashion statement. So I got a prescription and I am off looking for a fashionable pair of specks for those times that I am stuck in a rainstorm at night going to see a hockey game.

There is something about llamas

I was doing research on Argentine wines today, when I stumbled on numerous llama websites. I had no idea they came from Argentina. Another reason to go there.

Vogue

Fun with magazine covers.

Честита Баба Марта!

One of my favourite Bulgarian Holidays.