New York, I Love You

If you’re looking for a different kind of love story to see at the theaters this fall, look no further than New York, I Love You.  The film tells 12 different love stories, featuring an all-star cast. The film was created by the same producers of Paris Je T’aime and some of the directors include Fatih Atkin, Natalie Portman and Brett Ratner.

The film’s stars include Bradley Cooper, Shia LaBeouf, Blake Lively, Justin Bartha, Orlando Bloom, Robin Wright Penn, Hayden Christensen, Rachel Bilsen, Ethan Hawke, James Caan, Julie Christie, Natalie Portman, Cloris Leachman and many more.

New York, I Love You is expected to be released in the US on October 16.

If you can’t wait for New York, I Love You, you can watch Paris, Je T’aime until then.  This original film follows 18 stories in the city of love. After falling in love with Paris and New York, you can still look forward new love stories from Shanghai, Jerusalem and Rio in the next few years.

And, if you love the song from New York, I Love You trailer as much as I do, you can check out Phoenix’s performance of “1901” on David Letterman from August 18.

So what if I think serial killers are good looking?

As the sun sets Tuesday nights at Grant Park in downtown Chicago, hundreds gather to relax, converse, AND catch a good old-fashioned movie.

I have been an aficionado of going to these since

A.  I am completely broke and this event is free

B.  The people I go with generally possess some sort of edible goods

Tonight, the featured film was none other than Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece, Psycho. I had been fortunate enough to see the film with my UChicago dorm buddies earlier in the year, but was grateful to re-watch it.  I remember what struck me originally about the film the first time I watched it was the dashing good looks of none other than the insane-murderer-guy.  When I mentioned this patent fact to my predominately male companions, I was laughed at.  After receiving various jabs throughout the week about my observations, I, discouraged and downtrodden, put my Psycho yearnings on the back shelf.

The movie in Grant Park was projected onto a huge white screen.  My heart skipped a beat whilst munching on popcorn when that lovely, dark visage graced the screen.  With this amplified view, I frankly fell back into love with the antagonist: deranged, introverted, mentally disturbed and oh-so-dreamy, Norman Bates.

Have such a crush on Normy.  That black sweater.  That gripping gaze.  That deft movement by which he impinges Marion Crane’s abdomen with a butcher knife.

*Sigh*

Some men are just to die for.

John Hughes and Brat Pack Style

As Chicagoans and as lovers of all things 80s, we’re especially saddened by the news of John Hughes’ death.

Even though I was in high school twenty years after the Brat Pack movies were filmed, they really do capture what it’s like to grow up in the suburbs. Everyone I know wanted to recreate Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on senior ditch day (for the record, we did cruise down Lake Shore Drive a la Bueller, but it was in a Mercury Sable).

And where is the French restaurant in the movie located? If anyone knows, leave a comment.

While fashion technically took a backseat to teenage drama in the movies, today all of the clothing stands out just because it’s so quintesentially 80s. Let Avant Gaudy give you an Claire Standish-style makeover as we recreate classic Brat Pack looks. Click the items to check them out at our online boutique.

The September Issue

If you loved The Devil Wears Prada, here’s your chance to see the real deal. The September Issue follows Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, as the magazine prepares for its infamous September issue (According to The September Issue’s official site, the September 2007 issue of Vogue magazine weighed nearly five pounds, and was the single largest issue of a magazine ever published!).

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and a limited release in the US is scheduled for August 28. The September Issue won the Grand Jury Prize for Excellence in Cinematography at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Are you excited to see The September Issue?

The Twilight Saga: Nordstrom’s New Moon Collection

Jumping on the band-wagon?  Or pure genius?

InStyle provided an exclusive sneak peek of Nordstorm’s new line of Twilight-inspired clothing, ranging from T-shirts and accesories to fall jackets. While Nordstrom released the photos of the new line amidst Comic Con hype surrounding the release of the Twilight sequel, New Moon, the The Twilight Saga: New Moon Collection won’t be available until October, just before the November 20 release of the film.  Good timing.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Collection at Nordstrom by adriane. on Polyvore.com

While Nordstrom may appear to be following the Twilight trend, their timing couldn’t be better and it’s a smart move to increase sales. Other retailers, including Hot Topic, started selling Twilight merchandise last fall during the hype of the film’s release. Twilight was even labeled as the savior of Hot Topic, according to The Cut:

This welcome break from never-ending economic doom and gloom is brought to you by Twilight, the movie responsible for boosting Hot Topic’s sales 11.4 percent in the third quarter. What? Yes. Twilight merchandise has saved Hot Topic from bloody retail death in the economic downturn. Just look at the numbers:

The mall-based retailer’s comparable-store sales were negative from the second quarter of 2005 until October 2008. They have risen each month since then, increasing 6.5 percent in November, 4.3 percent in December, 6 percent in January and 10.8 percent last month.

Will The Twilight Saga: New Moon Collection increase sales rapidly at Nordstrom?  If “Twihards” have anything to do with it, then the money will surely be rolling in.

What do you think?  Is Nordstrom just jumping on the bandwagon or is this new collection a smart move?  Would you buy anything from the The Twilight Saga: New Moon Collection?

The Return of Depression Era Fashion

For those of you who haven’t seen the new movie Public Enemies, you are missing out on a great story and great some fashion. The film, starring Marion Cotillard, Christian Bale, and Johnny Depp, portrays the story of John Dillinger (Depp), an infamous Depression-era bank robber. Based on real events, the film is a great look at late 1920s and early 1930s fashion. Ardis Taylor, owner of Vintage Apparel by Ardis, helped create the looks for the films main actors.

When speaking about the garments choices made for the movie, Ardis says, ‘”The ’30s are the most rare, especially for menswear,” Taylor says. “‘Public Enemies’ was from around that era. It’s the hardest to locate because a lot of people within the business don’t know much about the fashion at all,” he says. “Within the ’30s, I like the textures of fabric — the herringbone tweeds and the chalk stripes they had in that period.”’

It seems as though Depression Era fashion or Depression Chic is coming back in style and is showing up in fall collections. Some might not be sure what it means when something is “Depression Chic.”  “Colours…are sombre, with a lot of greys, khakis and browns. Plaid is still very important and a revival of tweeds and herringbone patterns make a comeback in re-thought classic outerwear. ‘It is all about conversational pieces’ a sales representative from Unruly Heir told WGSN.” 

One designer whose Men’s Fall 09 collection was inspired by the Depression Era, is John Bartlett. His latest  collection featured plenty of tweed, plaid, news-boy caps and velvet suit jackets.

Says Bartlett of his inspiration, “There’s a new depression happening right now…It’s not a financial one but an emotional depression, with every friend of mine being on Prozac. The clothes from the Depression have a real elegance and a real innocence I’d like to recapture.”

According to the New York Times reporting on Bartlett’s current line, jackets had softer shoulders, tight pants were loosened, and models all had slicked back hair. One garment included a coat that hit close to the knee, and pants were all a bit short.

This summer and fall has shown Depression Era influences in film and fashion. It is a bit fitting, considering the current state of our economy, but let’s hope that all that’s repeated is the fashion and not the Era itself.

From the Big Screen to Magazines

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth movie of the series that has become a world-wide phenomenon, opens tonight at midnight. But one star of the films is grabbing attention for another reason.

Emma Watson, who plays Hermoine Grainger in the series, was recently unveiled as the face of Burberry for their fall 2009 and winter 2010 collections. In an interview with WWD, Watson said “I really don’t want fashion to overshadow my career.” Still, I think she looks fabulous in the campaign, and I really hope she continues to model—at least on the side! Check out some of the pictures:

Coco avant Chanel

Check out the trailer for Coco avant Chanel, the new film starring Audrey Tautou (The DaVinci Code, Amélie). While the film won’t be in limited release in the US until September 25, you can still watch the trailer (in French) or if you’re lucky, enjoy the movie in Europe this summer.

If you’re in love with all things Chanel, take a look at Chanel’s latest fashion show, Fall 2009 Couture.

Finally, be sure to check out Julianne’s post about vintage Chanel’s influence on contemporary fashion.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Hopefully by now, you’ve seen the newly-released photos from Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.  If not, here’s a sneak peek of Anne Hathaway as The White Queen:

If you don’t feel like waiting until March 2010 to see the live-action/3-D reimagining of the Lewis Carrol fairytale, just look to the runways and the stores to create your own wonderland wardrobe in muted shades of blue, grey, cream and pink. Look to vintage-inspired details and jewelry and for embellished accents, focus on layered ruffles, flowers and bows.

Rose Earrings (Urban Outfitters), Gold Flower Bracelet (Urban Outfitters), Grey Satin Headband (Forever 21), Grey Pumps (Gianmarco Lorenzi), Blue Ruffle Dress (Dorothyperkins.com), Pink Layered Top (Farfetch.com), High-Waisted Shorts (shopruche.com), Pearl Flower Necklace (SOHO Hearts), Gold Flats (Anthropologie), Pocket Watch Necklace (Urban Outfitters), Embellished Clutch (monsoon.co.uk), Tea Cup Ring (Lunarra Star Jewelry), "Drink Me" Necklace (Alidra Alic jewelry)