Porcelain Dress

Hellooo! Sorry about the extremely long hiatus. Has it been a month? It's seriously felt like forever though. School work has really caught up and now I'm past the semester's assignments and time for exams! Nonetheless, I've found some pretty fashion pieces and pictures to share. I first noticed this really pretty porcelain, blue and white china dress in Roberto Cavalli’s 40th anniversary book. Julia Stegner's wearing Roberto Cavalli's F/W 2005 dress and photographed by Mert & Marcus. Then I noticed it in an article on style.com about Bergdorf Goodman store window displays. It's a such interesting interpretation of porcelain vases, with an Asian vibe (note the dragon on the dress), and so beautifully fitted. Amazing.

In Roberto Cavalli’s 40th anniversary book

Source: Fashion Gone Rogue

In Bergdorf Goodman's Window Display

Credits:Style.com's Style File

On the Runway: Roberta Cavalli Ready to Wear F/W 2005

on Daria Werbowy
Source: Style.com


All for now!
Delilah

Think Vivienne Westwood, Punks/Heavy Metal/Skinheads, and the Communist Regime: Comrade Couture

After watching Comrade Couture at the Hong Kong International Film Festival last Friday, I immediately stopped at the nearest internet source and updated our vanillachymes twitter. The movie left me speechless about fashion and the lives of young adults in East Berlin in the 1980's. The director, Marco Wilms, was not only present at the movie screening, he also told us that he made this movie to remember the times he had, as a model in East Germany, living the life that would not have happened without the suppression of the Communist regime.

1. Creativity: As I mentioned in the title of this entry, Vivienne Westwood is what comes to mind when I saw the clothes in Comrade Couture. It's everything from punk, rock, grunge, to amazing elaborate couture. What makes the clothes here even better? It's made of materials such as strawberry field foils, shower curtains with black and white stripes on it, and hospital bags (unused, no worries). Why? Because the Communist regime in East Germany spent all their money on the military and war weapons, there was no money left for fabrics and clothes! Designers put on shows in the streets, abandoned churches and TADA, there was a source of entertainment in a place was assumed to be just gloomy and grey.

2. Living: In the film, Wilms interviewed many of his friends from his modeling days, his "wild" days in East Berlin. Many of them said without the times and the conditions of East Germany in the 1980's, they would not have lived the lives they had experienced. Were their lives different? Yes. But do they regret doing what they did? No. The photographers, stylists, and designers that generated the creativity in East Berlin would not have been able to done it without the situation they were in. Thanks to the Communist regime, money wasn't really a issue and they were able to do as they liked. In that period of time, they had really lived; they went to the parties, got caught by the police, and held shows that stunned the media. Their source of creativity is something that we really can't find again today.

3. Politics: A lot of the question to Wilms after the movie screening were about politics and the Communist regime in East Germany. But Wilms took note to include that there was no grudge against the political regime. The young adults behind this "underground" fashion scene were not rebels; they were not targeting against the government or the secret police. Instead, the government was after them. And some of them fled as a result of this. However, even with leaving East Germany to the West, to the United States, they realized that their desire to be free was truly instilled in them in East Berlin. And with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of East Germany, the childhood home of Wilms and his friends had vanished.

Nonetheless, this movie is a definite "must-go-to" if it's showing in theaters nearby. I was so absorbed about the whole Communist crack-down atmosphere and the wild almost-Lady-Gaga-like style in the film that I had to buy a copy of the dvd for the numerous times I'll be re-watching it! Plus, the moment I heard "extra photos" and "extra fashion show" clips, my hand automatically snatched a copy and put down the money for a dvd. I went home with dvd in hand and a heart full of content :)

Since Jeisa's added video clips to her last two entries, let me try this out too! Here's the trailer for Comrade Couture and it's probably the best way for anyone interested to get a glimpse of movie for themselves :

All for now,
Delilah!

Lady Blue Shanghai

On one of my frequent trips down to the city for some shopping, I dropped by my local Christian Dior boutique to see if anything tickled my fancy. I was greeted by a sweet SA, who began to introduce several nice items. (Technically anything in Dior is nice to me so it was really hard for me to not want anything). All of a sudden, she disappeared to the other side of the room and when she returned...lo and behold, she brought forth the most amazing bag ever.

lady dior bag in blue sapphire

exclusively made for the re-opening of a flagship store in Plaza 66, Shanghai, in conjunction with the World Expo 2010, Dior crafted several iconic pieces from their collection in a gorgeous shade of sapphire blue.

A couple months ago, David Lynch released an exclusive video for Dior, appropriate named Lady Blue Shanghai. Starring Marion Cotillard, who is the face of the Lady Blue Shanghai series, the video is the third chapter of the Lady Dior Saga, following Lady Rouge.

While I wasn't the biggest fan of the video, I must say, the shots of Shanghai were stunning, infusing the old and the modern futuristic views of the city gave life to the eerie movie. Not to mention, the glimpses of the blue famed Lady Dior bag made it all worthwhile. Watch it & tell me what you think.

For more information about Lady Blue Shanghai & its exclusive iconic items to be sold at their Shanghai flagship store, check out: www.ladydior.com

With much love,
Jeisa

The Sweater Girl as Sylvia Plath

August 24th, 2010 (well, it's the 24th in Asia) is the official release date of American Vogue's September issue. The funny thing is, I'm halfway around the world and I bought my issue on August 20th at HMV's Causeway Bay store in Hong Kong. Haha, so I already flipped through the entire magazine on the ride home.

I actually was looking forward to buying Teen Vogue (even though I left my teens last month *sniff) because I generally like more youthful style in the magazine, but it wasn't out yet! Nonetheless, the September issue still had numerous delightful pages.

My favorite spread was the Sweater Girl shoot featuring Lara Stone. Photographed by Mart Alas and Marcus Piggott, Grace Coddington once again works her magic in this very vintage elegance vibe photo shoot. Lots of fitted and oversized sweaters, over the knee length skirts, and Lara's blonde hair in perfect sleek curls.

Photo Credits: FashionGoneRogue

I have to first say, I'm not really a Lara Stone fan. But I think I should take that back now because this really shows how Lara is a great model: she can be anything you make her be! She's edgy, and there's something about those eyebrows that make her different. What I also got from this shoot was a very Sylvia Plath-esque feeling to it. It's as if Grace Coddington had Sylvia Plath in mind when she was styling the shoot (I'm only guessing).

Although Sylvia Plath was a poet and author and not a style icon, I could see this as very "Sylvia." Gwyneth Paltrow starred in a movie as Plath, Sylvia; but after watching bits of it on a movie channel, I turned the tv off because it just made Sylvia Plath seem like some psycho and not the amazing writer that she was. Mostly recognized for her poetry, Sylvia Plath also published one novel, The Bell Jar, which I read last summer. Yes, she's pessimistic and suicidal but she's only human. In her book, I got this feeling that she was explaining why she needed to commit suicide, due to her experiences and her despair over the future. And no offense to anyone, but isn't she actually quite reasonable at times?

Sorry that this has turned it a extensive lesson on literature! I didn't know I'd ramble on for so long! Well, here's the end of this entry. I'll end it with one of my favorite quotes by Sylvia Plath. And really, fashionistas need to start making her iconic. Like Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, and Jane Birkin! One day, maybe I'll design a bag or shirt and name it "the Sylvia."

Haha, I'll keep dreaming.
Delilah

"From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and off-beat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn’t quite make out.

I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig-tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet."
-Sylvia Plath in "The Bell Jar" 

Timeless: Kate Moss and Beverly Hills

Hello! Delilah here posting a spread that I've just completely fell in love with. It's Kate Moss channeling a soft nostalgic Beverly Hills look in a spread for Glamour France in June 1992.The spread was photographed by Lance Straedler.

Photo Credits: Nasty Gal Vintage Blog

It's sooo pretty. The soft palette of baby blue, pink, and orange. The vintage Beverly Hills atmosphere. Youthful (note the teddy bear!) and playful (in the dinner with her Coke float) Kate Moss with her messy hair in princess-y knee length party dresses. What's there to not love about this shoot? Here come by favorite picture in the spread...

What does this remind you of? For me, it's very Miss Dior Cherie. No? Except the Miss Dior Cherie ad is more dreamy and it's set in Paris. But there's something special about Kate and her very baroque dress. It's as if she plucked the curtains off Versailles and turned it into the cutest party dress ever. And decided to go to a party with pink balloons that matched her dress. Isn't that absolutely dreamy?

Ah, just lovely. :)
All for now, Delilah

Tom Ford and Others in A Single Man.

Hmm... When I say "Tom Ford," what's the first thing you think of?

I'm guessing...previously the designer for Gucci, the (very) hot brunette male designer that has very erotic commercials, and Tom Ford eyewear.

Well, Tom Ford's a movie director now and A Single Man is his first movie. Although, Colin Firth's oscar nomination for Best Actor in the film probably brought a lot of attention from outside the fashion circle, I have to say Tom Ford also did an amazing job. The script was stunningly refreshing, the camera shots blurring in and out, and the music and silence in the right places, A Single Man basically spoke for itself. Looking at the story, a post-middle age man, devastated by the leaving of his lover, planning to prepare for the last twenty-four hours of his life. I love how George Falconer (Colin Firth) so explicitly confronts Charley (Julianne Moore), his close-female friend & living in a life of quiet desperation, of her love for self-pity, how everyone has a love for their own self pity. There's also the beautiful Kenny (Nicholas Hoult), Falconer's student, who has realizes the inability to connect, feels ultimately alone, but still lives for the future.

From another perspective, as I was reading the newspaper today, two movie reviewers put a lot of emphasis on Tom Ford's ability to create the sixties setting. And I absolutely love the sixties. I don't know where to start with that, but I'll stick to A Single Man for now. George's glasses (large square-ish black frames), the very pretty car (I think it was a Benz), the glass house, to Charley's makeup was all very authentically sixties. The big hair and the sleek black eyeliner look were all very impressive. And the clothes? It goes without saying that Tom Ford didn't let any piece of clothing go out of place. Double thumbs up to Colin Firth's suits and Julianne Moore's black and white gown.

In addition to everything, I noticed two things. Number one: Nicholas Hoult (on the right). Remember that name. Because he's oh sooo pretty (well, it is a Tom Ford movie, to beautiful people should go without saying, no? and Nicholas Hoult is really pretty. haha.) His crystal blue eyes make you almost feel like that geeky girl that might accidentally say the chessy line of  "omg, you dad must have been a thief, because he stole the stars and put'em in your eyes." Plus I do see talent in him, he very well convinced me that he was an honest, yet somewhat confused, soul trying to find answers. I hope to see him around.

Number two: The girl on the left, I remember her character being "Louis" but somehow, she's not on the cast list on imdb.com. Despite not knowing what her name is, the look is very iconic. The moment I saw it, I thought "Brigitte Bardot!" When I went be a bookstore later, I saw the cover of V magazine with Dakota Fanning channeling the same look. Does that mean the sixties and Brigitte Bardot look is back? Nonetheless, I love it.

So, if you do have time, want some food for thought, and in the mood for a movie? Try A Single Man, I believe that you'll be impressed.

Ferrero Rocher x Party Dress

Hi :) Delilah here!

For my first post, I didn't have anything in particular planned. The whole idea of Vanilla Chymes came out of a spur of excitement and I've been wanting to start something like the for quite a while now. I'm sooo happy to have this up and running (thank you, Jeisa!). So to start off, I guess I should say that I'm currently residing in an urban cement jungle in Asia (aka. Hong Kong). And I'm study something completely unrelated to fashion, art, or anything innovative in college (okay, I'm exaggerating a little, but that's how I feel sometimes!)

Here's a treat to begin Vanilla Chymes...

I've always loved Ferrero Rocher Chocolates. There's just something about the creamy soft inside and the crunchy almond bits sprinkled on top that I couldn't get enough of (besides, I only got a box once every year or so. My mom doesn't like chocolate, so I'd only have Ferrero Rochers during festivities from presents). I used to take the gold tape on the side of the chocolate box and use it to decorate this sides of my bookshelves and I stick the tiny stickers onto a page of my schedule. Hehe. Basically, I'm Ferrero obsessed.

One day in high school, I noticed the pretty concentric circle pattern on the bottom of the wrappers and *TADA* I though it looked a lot like the traffeta on the bottom of wedding gowns, evening dresses, and Betsey Johnson party dresses! So I made a version of a full length gown immediately. Sometime in the few months, I came across the work of Danny Roberts and fell in love with his style of painting, drawing on glass, and speed painting videos and I wanted to try it out myself. So I tried sketching out a girl from his painting ( I vaguely remember seeing a picture similar to that of ZhangZiYi at the Dior fashion show) and I didn't really like the black dress. So from the party dress shape, I decided to add in a Fererro pattern :)

Step 1: Sketching

Step 2 Cutting out the shapes

Step 3 Gluing it together

... and that's all I've gotten to so far. I'm hoping to add in a water color background but I couldn't make up my mind. Hopefully I'll get back to it soon enough.

all for now :)