Film of the Week

I'm about to type something shocking. Charade might have a better wardrobe than even Breakfast at Tiffany's. There, it's out. Made two years after the infamous Tiffany's, Charade not only has one of my favorite idols, Audrey Hepburn, the film also stars my tied-for-favorite-actor-with-Jimmy-Stewart Cary Grant. It is a safe assumption that any movie with either Audrey Hepburn or Cary Grant in it is going to be exceptionally fashionable. You get AMAZING clothes (Givenchy, of course), a gorgeous apartment (it's still fantastic, even if it is devoid of all furniture), a Henry Mancini soundtrack, and some pretty amazing shots of Paris. I don't like to reveal much of the story line in my Film of the Week posts, but suffice to say that Charade has enough plot twists to leave you confused yet delighted.




PS- Isn't Audrey's face a riot? I have a coat that I redid to look very similar to hers (my sister sewed the buttons on, I supervised. Thanks C!)




Photo sources:
href="http://www.krazycrow.com/Audrey/Audrey.html"
href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38934532@N04/3862769667/in/set-72157621292674125/"
href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38934532@N04/3862769765/in/set-72157621292674125/"

Couture

Gotta love Christian Dior.

Photo source: href="http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/F2009CTR-CDIOR"

Happy Thanksgiving!

The above photo is from one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Photo source: href="http://www.toplessrobot.com/2008/11/the_10_greatest_macys_thanksgiving_day_parade_ball.php"

New York

Photo source: href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholemccall/3252956818/"

Now that is a dress

Why can't there be a Bergdorf Goodman down the street?

Photo source: href="http://amyvcooper.com/blog/index.php?c=1&more=1&pb=1&tb=1&title=bergdorf_goodman_holiday_windows_2007"

Obsessed

There has always been something retro-chic about red lipstick. Having been a burgundy lipstick or lightly tinted lip gloss kind of a gal, I was wary to embrace the season's trend for traffic-stopping red lips. However, after much debate, I tried the look and can safely say I love it. The most difficult thing about wearing a bright red lipstick is that I paired it with a light eyeshadow. I certainly haven't mastered the silvery eyeshadow/ black liner thing but I'm definitely going to give it another go.



Photo sources:
href="http://agelessbeautyalways.blogspot.com/2009/01/gold-standard-chanel-red-lipstick_16.html"
href="http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2006/07/17/the-devil-wears/"

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I first saw actress and musician Charlotte Gainsbourg in the 1996 version of Jane Eyre. Not only is she very talented, she possesses a strong personal style and grace that is uncommon in modern actresses. She is often photographed in Balenciaga, but she mixes haute couture with unknown pieces on a regular basis. Regardless of what label she wears, her taste is spot on when it comes to trousers, trenches, and shoes. Speaking of shoes, Charlotte Gainsbourg has big ones to fill since her mother is Jane Birkin.



Photo sources:
href="http://www.last.fm/music/Charlotte+Gainsbourg/+images/417080"
href="http://www.style.com/peopleparties/celebritysearch/person581"
http://www.celebritywonder.com/picture/Charlotte_Gainsbourg/CharlotteGai_Barson_11067100.html href="http://"

Paris

Photo source: href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kbro15/4039387824/"

Lovely Literature

My love for Vogue is well known. My love for fashion books is even more prolific. With some of the best images since Vogue's inception in 1909 (technically 1892, but I count when Conde Nast acquired it), In Vogue spans almost a hundred years of fashion illustration and photography. Mostly beautiful images of artful gowns, coats, etc., there a few brow-raisers. In Vogue is not only a fashion-lover's perfect book, it is also for someone who can appreciate good photography and artful display.

Photo source: href="http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/11/1117_gift_books/source/8.htm"

Cold

When is it ever going to get cold enough to wear a fantastic coat? Unfortunately, I do not have one quite as fantastic as this Anna Wintour look-a-like is wearing, but I do have some pretty amazing ones. Hurry up and get here 30s and 40s!

Photo source: href="http://www.zimbio.com/Anna+Wintour/articles/36/HBIC+Fashion+Anna+Wintour"

Film of the Week

This is possibly my second favorite movie of all time. Though it lost in the Best Foreign Film Oscar category in 2004, it should have won hands down. A Czechoslovakian movie, Zelary centers on the Nazi and Russian involvement in a rural community. The lead actress, Anna Geislerová, is stunningly beautiful and talented. Her clothes are simple yet very stylish (at least for the city scenes) throughout the movie. The interiors are a little weak but WOW, the plot line is very strong. I'm not usually one for romances but this movie will make you want to drop your respective other and marry an older Czechoslovakian gentleman (if you're single, like myself, you'll want to find one posthaste). Fair warning: you'll a need a hankie (or twelve).



Photo sources: href="http://www.impawards.com/2003/zelary.html"
href="http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2026477824/nm0190691"

Obsessed

In my opinion, British Vogue trumps American Vogue six ways to Sunday. The pictures are better, the paper a better quality, the stories more interesting. Oh yes! I almost forgot, British Vogue is still centered around fashion. Get thee to your local B&N hence!

PS- the above cover is actually from my favorite issue of British Vogue. I picked mine up in London on New Year's day, 2000.

British Vogue: http://www.vogue.co.uk/

Photo source: http://www.modelinia.com/slideshows/covers--gisele-b--252-ndchen/46

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Photo source: here

For nearly five decades, Catherine Deneuve has intrigued move goers and fashion lovers alike for her superb acting skills and even better wardrobe. I confess after seeing her gorgeous "Pilgrim" shoes in Belle du Jour I immediately went out and purchased the closest things I could find. And who doesn't love her immaculate collection of trenches?

The Classics

There are certain things in this world that instantly exude elegance. Chanel No. 5 is definitely one of them. Since I'm not quite 30, I stick to the more youthful Chanel Allure. But every so often I'll spritz a little No. 5 on and I'm instantly taken to the Coco Chanel suite in the Paris Ritz.

Photo Source: here

White Interiors

Photo source: http://architechome.com/

Oh the white apartment, how I love thee. I have a serious obsession with majority white interiors. There is something so clean and geometric about colorless spaces. Perhaps they remind me of art galleries which always make me ridiculously happy. This beauty of an apartment certainly reminds me of a gallery with it's open plan and perfectly placed art on the walls. Plus, who doesn't adore that white stove?

 Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43220336@N03/4051326717/in/photostream/

Lovely Literature

Photo source:http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZXzPVY-thus/StDjvxdtwqI/AAAAAAAAA24/zhxN_QJMgZE/s400/BOOK+Elegance.jpg

Show me a person who doesn't love books and I'll show you one bored individual. As a person who loves to collect an assortment of things, books are a high priority. Though a confirmed history nut, my tastes can range anywhere from William Shirer to Plum Sykes. Unlike with film, my main concern with a book is that it has to hold my attention. A few summers ago I happened across a chic little volume entitled A Guide to Elegance: For Every Woman Who Wants to Be Well and Properly Dressed on All Occasions. Quite a mouthful, but the author, a ludicrously refined lady by the name Genevieve Antoine Dariaux, takes you through every style situation women encounter. Undoubtedly, this book changed my perspective on dressing properly, accessorizing, proper makeup application, and personal style in general. I've given copies to my sister, friends, and personally own three. There is always a copy in my bedside drawer just in case I need to consult with Madame Dariaux on an elegance crisis.


Even though I use Madame Dariaux's imppeccable advice constantly I still don't look like this...yet.


Photo Source: http://imagecache5.art.com/p/LRG/27/2770/2WXTD00Z/grace-kelly.jpg

Film of the Week

One topic I would like to concentrate on here at Poised Perfection is film. I'm the type of person who refuses to pay $8 for a movie but who's Netflix account flourishes. I am often guilty of watching movies solely for the wardrobe or the interiors. Films of the Week will have the following criteria: good clothes, enviable interiors, and a decent plot line. For my first Film of the Week I would like to include a classic that not only includes an amazing wardrobe (oh that red and black dress), elegant interiors ( the fake house near Mount Rushmore), and a highly intriguing plot (Alfred Hitchcock), but you also get Cary Grant. Need I say more? So for the first Film of the Week let me present: North by Northwest.

Photo source: http://feastofnemesis.wordpress.com/category/sir-basils-women/

Pilot Post!

Welcome to Poised Perfection!

The debate to create a blog has been a constant thought for me for several months now. A lot of inspiration for my daily life comes from the much beloved blogs that I frequent. My hope is that others with similar interests will find a port in the storm in our largely inelegant world.

Okay...enough existentialism. Time for gorgeous clothes, chic interiors, amusing books, and fabulous film. Enjoy darlings!

Image source:http://www.counterfeitchic.com/couture_in_court