Men in Black Tie

Friend Jack and I have been working on a list of iconic menswear which is forthcoming (suggestions?), but in the meantime here are some great black tie ensembles. Oh for the day when you couldn't go to the club to read the paper w/o your black tie, le sigh.

For more on men's formal wear classifications see this entry.

Humphrey Bogart: double breasted peak lapel

Cary Grant in silk stockings

Fred Astaire in a-typical black tie with waistcoat

Sean Connery's Bond with a narrow shawl collar

Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby (shawl collar, pointed tie)

Cary Grant shawl collar

Daniel Craig James Bond shawl collar

New Dress Photo

in case you're not my facebook friend...

New Opening Night Dress

So I had all those blog entries about the leopard print opening night dress that I was making and believe me, I've been excited about it. I bought some nude pumps to wear with it last Saturday as the opening is quickly upon us (this Saturday). But then friend Christina texted me a picture of a beautiful 40s dress at a consignment shop and called me and wouldn't hang up until I'd promised to get in my car and come try it on, so I did, and I bought it, and it's beautiful and it fits me perfectly, I just need to turn up the hem. Christina has a picture of me in it I'll try to post later. You better believe there will be red stain on my lips and gobs of curls on my head. This is going to be a great party bc I'm going to look so good. Ug, can't wait until Saturday!

Also, I think black is a good choice bc I'm not sure the actors would recognize me out of blacks ;). ULTIMATE DRESS BLACKS!

Anna Karenina trailer

I don't like Anna Karenina. I don't like the person, I don't like the story bc I don't like the person. Women's lib blah blah blah, she's a trashy selfish person and the train can't come soon enough.

So...Keira Knightley as Anna Karenina, blerg. I don't like Keira Knightley. I think she plays the same character over and over: pretty but nothing special with some sort to inexplicable personality that draws all men to her. Perfect for Anna Karenina! She also doesn't wear any period well besides the 20s and 30s.

And so the trailer for the 2012 Anna Karenina which I've known about for awhile, but have repressed or something bc I was surprised to see a trailer so soon.



Ug. Ok, so Tom Stoppard, one of my favorite playwrights has done the screenplay. Great. Jude Law, wonderful. Other than that? Not excited. The menswear looks phenomenal, but the womenswear looks sloppy and droopy and all concept heavy. Again, it doesn't help that Keira Knightley, like I said, can't wear period to save her life. Alexi looks gross (aren't they both Alexi? they both look gross, but Jude Law's in an "amazingly done hair and make up" kind of way). Yes the cinematography looks beautiful in scenes. What's with the dancing? The furs are divine. Not excited, the train can't come soon enough!

Atticus Finch is THE sexy dad

I have a new movie trailer to talk about at some point, but I just have to GUSH about the Utah Shakespeare Festival's production of To Kill A Mockingbird which I saw the first preview of tonight.

Woof. Seriously, so so good! I love TKAM. I loved it when I read it in eighth grade and I love the Gregory Peck film, both of which I haven't acquainted myself with recently making tonight's performance like remembering a pleasant dream halfway through the day;  recalling bits and pieces of something that makes you smile and that feels familiar. I won't say of course that the play is about anything pleasant, but seeing and feeling the story come to life once more was arresting and wonderful.

The play, starting with Monica Bell as Jean Louise (the grown up Scout and narrator), settled into a natural and comfortable rhythm. The events unfolded as they do in the book, through the memories of a child, although in this case retold by an adult. The child actors were endearing and precious, especially Dill. The ensemble was what an ensemble is, not distracting. Atticus Finch was...wow.

Atticus Finch is the perfect father. I find him absolutely sexy. I find patience, uprightness, courage, love, and affection absolutely sexy and Atticus Finch is the ultimate of all of these. Played by Martin Kildare, Atticus has a softness but strength, all at once gently and deftly guiding his children to right and steadfastly and unflinchingly guiding the jury and courtroom with his undeniable congeniality and strength. I'm trying to be oh so eloquent but I just don't have enough words for Atticus Finch, nor Kildare's portrayal of him.

The story of course gets me, how could it not? My biggest take away however is Atticus' example of fatherhood. I was most touched by his interactions with the children and lost my mind when Atticus starts shouting after Jem is brought home and he can't find Scout. That tore me up like nothing else to that point had. It was all just so so phenomenal, truly.

I've seen all the current season but one (taking into account I've only seen crew views of Scapin and Les Mis as I'm back stage), and can't honestly tell you what the must see of the season is. All of the shows are absolutely phenomenal. If you're in the Southern Utah and/or Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, or Nevada area, or want to be you need to come to the festival this season, it is just the greatest, I'm out of words of praise.

Photos of Mockingbird here



P.S. I will say I didn't think the play was hot enough. The Randall Theatre is always freezing and for a Southern play everyone looked fresh as a daisy. I so wanted the court room scene to swelter and to see giant sweat stains when Atticus takes off his suit coat. If only no one would powder off! Oh well, only nitpicky qualm.

Cumberbatch and Sherlock win awards

Sherlock won best movie or mini-series at the Critics' Choice TV Awards and Benedict Cumberbatch won best actor in a movie or mini-series. I think with all this high praise Ben should film series three then take some down time to lead at a US regional theatre, and I know of just the one (USF, cough cough).

Also, here's a picture of Cumberbatch and Stevens at Men's Fashion Week looking all sombre and delectable. (source)

Future book buys

I just spent a night of delicious soup and dessert, laundry and perusing friend Jack's costume book collection. He has two books that are next on my buy list...

First: The Art of Fabric Manipulation by Colette Wolff

I've wanted this one for awhile. It's got all sorts of great instructions and illustrations for smocking, pleating, quilting, ruffles, tucking, stuffing, cording etc. It's great and I want it!

Second: Couture Sewing Techniques by Claire B. Shaeffer

It's exactly what it sounds like and has lots of illustrations and photos of garments.

Outnumbered and superstition

This is going to be one of those entries where I just start typing about how busy I've been and have been hard up for blog topics and time to write them until a topic comes to me...uh....hmmm....

So yeah, I've been busy. Dress rehearsals started at the Utah Shakespeare Festival this week. I'm dressing Scapin and Les Mis. I'm fairly busy for Scapin, a couple changes before intermission, then three changes in 4 minutes none over 24 seconds during the chase at the end. Les Mis is a little less impossible with 9 changes before intermission, all over 2 minutes 45 seconds which is pretty easy peasy...

aaaaaaaaaand....I should express an opinion about something, that's usually what I do on here....

ok, I'll tell you about Outnumbered and theatre superstitions.

1st: Outnumbered is a BBC sitcom I watched last summer on PBS after work. It's pretty great. The hijinks of two parents and their three children, the children's dialogue being mostly improvised. I haven't watched it since last summer as I haven't really tried to find it anywhere not on southern UT television, but I was reminded of it a couple of weeks ago. Karen's my favorite. She played baby Elizabeth I in The King's Speech.



2nd: That clip is about Friday the 13th, which is lucky in theatre. Theatre people are very superstitious. Also...

NEVER say Macbeth in a theatre except during a performance. I don't even like to say it on Festival grounds.
You ALWAYS have to knock on wood when you say knock on wood.

and that's all I can think of right now, haha. But we are very superstitious. Whatever can go wrong will, so be careful!

Rambles and a dress

Balenciaga 1961-62 @ the Met

I had a terrible day at work. I think we all did. We're all ballgowned out. I need to finish mine so's I can finish a vest I started. I think stitchers and costumers in general just hit a wall and we've been lucky it's taken us so long. After yoga today I calmed down a bit and realized it's only Tuesday and we have until Saturday night when all is said and done.

Also, yoga. Ug. I recognize it's helpful qualities, I also recognize I probably need some sort of inflatable mattress to prevent bruising whilst I roll around on the floor for an hour. Too boney for this stuff.

Here's a dress friend Jack and I agree I need to make over the summertimes. I think it'd be a great garden dress for our crossover party between summer and fall seasons. Now I just need a fall season opening night dress. I also need to make my Doctor Who vest for Halloweens!

V&A: Man's jama

Firstly: Downton 3 will air on PBS starting 6 January 2013. That's less than six months away, I can make it! I can make it!

Secondly: Friend Jack and I have been planning summer funtimes projects. I'm sure a new party dress will be in order. I'm also dying to make a Russian peasant smock.

Thirdly: One of my single favorite pieces in all of the Victoria and Albert is their white man's jama, which of course I want to make a modern version of!

The jama's description online which is almost verbatim what its plaque says: 

 "This man's robe is of the type called a jama, which crosses over the chest and fastens at the side. This example is exceptional in the amount of cloth used for its gathered skirt: it has a circumference at the hem of 65 metres of cloth, and the skirt is made up of 277 triangular panels. It was given to the India Museum (which was amalgamated into the South Kensington Museum, later the V&A) by the Maharaja of Bharatpur in Rajasthan in 1855."

The plaque for the Mughal costumes says:
"Men's costume of the Mughal court was based on the jama, a tailored gown tied at the side, and the paijama, tapering trousers which were loose at the top and close-fitting at the lower leg...Fine Kashmir wool shawls were often draped over the shoulder, sometimes in pairs: a fashion started by the Emperor Akbar."

Another plaque in the Indian portion explains that Muslims tended to tie their jamas on the right, and Hindus on the left.

I want one! Ok, here are mor pictures of the white jama.

 

And here's an 18th century jama

Don't they just look so comfy and elegant and wonderful? I want one real bad!

favorite picture: Michael Fassbender

oh so very thin in his fall front pants.

I once read a review of Jane Eyre describing Michael Fassbender as "greyhound lean". This is what they meant...

Sometimes I can't get over how narrow men are. It's probably because I have the boniest and most angular hips around. I know that's the point, girls have hips, boys don't, but it surprises me all the same.

Also, everything else about this picture is wonderful and I want to watch the film again.

Ballgowns, for real this time.

My ballgown had its fitting yesterday and it's the prettiest girl at the ball! Well I think so anyway ;). Poofy sleeves and dupioni and lace and crinolines! It's going to be the purdiest wedding ever. Thanks to first hand Jack for the pictures (whom I will be couturing with all summertimes) and Kevin Alberts for the beauteous design!

Crew view for Les Mis was last night and it's going to be phenomenal. Highlight? Fantine for sure. I wept and wept during the whole time she sang always. I told you I was going to be a mess during the show. Valjean was wonderful, Javert was superb and Enjolras is a dreamboat.

Sexy Sunday: Breakfast at Tiffany's

I went to St. George yesterday and got super cute new shoes (and the COMPLETE Jeeves and Wooster!) so I had to put together a super cute outfit! This was more difficult than you would think bc my summer wardrobe is almost entirely brown neutral and I wore my only power neutral skirt last week and I'd worn my black cardigan yesterday and blah blah blah. Moral of the story is it worked out and I call this my Breakfast at Tiffany's look bc I'm wearing my Tiffany blue skirt and my hair's so so high and huge on my head. Also, ever since I got an angled brush cateyes are the easiest things ever (not that you can even tell in this picture bc my eyes are the squintiest)! I have half a mind to do a before and after Sunday make up post bc I love make up so much!

cardigan: Target
black leotard: some dance store in Provo from my ballet class
necklace and earrings: Forever 21 (necklace is from Santa Monica store)
skirt: made by me
shoes: Naturalizer from Dillards

Ballgowns &c (that means etc.)

No pictures, sorry! I've been working on my Les Mis ballgown all week. Shout out to firsthand Jack for getting five ballgowns cut basically start to finish since Monday! Holla! Other than that I unpicked and finished a corset I'd closed up last week.

Friend Kara and I joined a gym and have gone for two days! We're going to Zumba in a couple of minutes. Excited!

I've been plowing through Stuff You Missed in History Class and now just want to read books on everything!

I'll try to think up a clever entry for tomorrow or the next day.