Thursday Style Icon: Sofia Coppola's 'Marie Antoinette'

Off With Her Head.

Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette seems to be a rather misunderstood film; equally loved and hated, it was panned by critics as style over substance (with the exception of Roger Ebert, who gave the film a rare four star rating), but garnered a 55% approval on Rotten Tomatos and a cult following. Whether you love the film, which was a modern, bubbly take on the doomed Austrian queens life (it completely omitted her beheading) or hated it, one thing was undeniable: the clothes were spectacular.



The costumes for the movie were designed by Milena Canonero, who won an Oscar for Best Achievement in Costume Design for her lavish creations, and Manolo Blahnik, who created all the shoes. They featured extravagant ball gowns, over-the-top wigs and hats, feathers, flowers and fans, all in a youthful palette of pastels: soft pinks, light yellows, gentle peaches and baby blues.

Ironically, the color scheme was based on a box of macaroons from pâtisserie Ladurée ('Let them eat cake!'), and pastries from the French bakery were also featured extensively in the movie. The costumes perfectly embodied Marie Antoinette's carefree, fanciful existence and the sharp line between the life she lived and the reality she lived in; a time where she insisted on powdering her hair with flour while her people were starving and on the brink of war.

Filming locations included Château de Chantilly, Hotel du Soubise, Chateau de Versailles and Opéra National de Paris Palais Garnier in France, for a truly authentic feel. Vast gardens with beautifully-manicured topiary and lawnsand intricate print upholestry set against gold-gilded doors, floral wallcoverings and panelled walls dripping with decorative Rococo opulence provide a great backdrop for showing the extravagant life of the teenage queen, who was only 38 when she was executed. Love it or hate it, Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette is definitely a feast for the eyes.






































Kirsten Dunst with director Sofia Coppola on set

And I Want My Pink Shirt Back!

We all know I am a Jeffrey Campbell junkie; I own five pairs of his shoes and they are some of the comfiest, sexiest items I own. So you can best believe I FLIPPED when I heard he was coming out with his first line of handbags. He released the promotional images a couple of weeks ago on his site and, let me tell you, they are gorgeous. Named 'Girls We Hated In High School,' the line is primarily made of fringe, denim, and leather, and is described on his website as being 'for the girl who tried to drown you at summer camp. For that crazy chick that used to make out with all of your crushes. For that one time that she wrote a love letter to the big man on campus and signed it with your name. For every single time she talked trash about you to the football team. But most of all, for high school NO NAMES everywhere we give to you GIRLS WE HATED IN HIGH SCHOOL– bags by JC.'

I was more Regina George than Cady (Catty!) Heron in high school, and there's no word yet on when these bad boys are dropping, but I'm still scooping up some of these bags when they come out. At least I never stole anyone's boyfriend, right?

M'm, M'm Good!

Jessica Quirk

Tomato red, and especially, tomato red pants, have been trending for a while now, but I refused to blog about it because of the colored denim trend of a few years ago. Living in New York City, I saw couples wearing matching, fire-engine red jeans and head-to-toe purple ensembles (and these yellow pants worn by Rihanna remain a recurring nightmare), and at that time I swore no jeans would ever touch these legs that weren't blue or black.

But when I saw this post by Jessica Quirk, of What I Wore, my jaw dropped. Red, wide-legged trousers that fit like a dream? That she MADE? I was onboard. Hence this post! Numerous designers sent tomato red down the runways for Spring 2011, in all incarnations: from the bright lips at Gucci to the creamy chiffon dresses at Giles to the no-nonsense stylings of Paul Smith (definitely a new favorite brand), there's more ways to wear red this season than any other color.


Left, Balmain, right, Giles


left, Christopher Kane, right, DKNY


left, Ralph Lauren, right, Paul Smith


left, Alexander McQueen, right, Oscar de la Renta

The easiest way to wear a bold color like this, paradoxically enough, is to treat it like a neutral: replace your traditional white shirt or trousers for work with a ruffled red blouse or wide-legged pair of red slacks like Jessica's, for example. You can also never go wrong with a bright red coat, as the pop of color stands out in a crowd and can pull an entire look together. Just avoid it if you're wearing a clashing color on the bottom, like yellow; instead hop on the color blocking trend and pair it with tangerine, emerald, or rich violet tones.

If accessories are more your cup of tea, one standout piece in scarlet is enough to perk up an outfit. To dress up your tomato red for night, don't be afraid to pile on extras: look for bedazzled tops and bottoms or entire dresses covered in crystals, glistening metallics or smooth, glossy finishes. But if you do decide to wear a fun, funky red at night, ditch fussy or over the top accessories-the color alone has more than enough wow factor.

Red is EVERYWHERE, so it shouldn't be hard to find something in your price point or taste level if you want to try out this trend. For a simple yet bright crewneck top (perfect for layering!), you can't beat this shirt from Urban Outfitters, $5. Urban actually has tons of red at very affordable prices, so I'd suggest you type 'red' into their search box and see what you get. I personally fell in love with these items:

Converse Clocked Watch, $40
Cooperative Long Knit Dress, $39
Natural Straw Fedora, $29
Sparkle & Fade Stretch Seamed Bodycon Dress, $20
Kimchi Blue Saddle Emblem Crossbody Bag, $20
Cayenne Posey Print Lace-Up, $20
Sparkle & Fade One-Shoulder Ruffle Romper, $18
Francesca Slip-On Sneaker, $16
Sparkle & Fade Chiffon Pleated Bodice Strapless Dress, $15
BDG Twill Grazer Cigarette Pant, $15
Anna Sui Enamel Nail Polish (Red), $15
Striped Aviator Glasses, $10
Red Eyeliner Pencil, $6

Images via Vogue

Brand New Monday: It's A Celebration, Bitches

A couple of weeks ago my good friend Will turned 24 (eek! Can anybody say mid-twenties?) and I wore head-to-toe new clothes to his party, at a hip downtown hotel bar. We've known each other since we were 13 years old, so I had to go all out for the birthday celebrating our foray into adulthood.

The sparkly shorts were recommended for me by my mom, and when they arrived, I realized just how well she knew me: sparkles, hot pants, and a velvet bow? I was all in. I bought them at the Gap but, sadly, they no longer carry them. They are amazing! I paired them with tights and my trusty Kenneth Cole boots, because it was FREEZING, along with a floral tunic from Target on top, tucked in and cinched up in the back to look like a shirt. It seems like a bit of an over the top combination, but I love the way it turned out.













The party was soooo much fun. The dj was dope and the drinks were cheap AND strong, plus it wasn't too crowded so I was actually able to dance the night away. It was the Saturday that time changed, however, so I looked up and before I knew it, it was 4am. The night just flew by... I can't wait for Spring and Summer to arrive so I can have more nights like this with my friends.