H Is For . . . Hayworth or Hathaway?

Was British GQ trying to pay homage to Rita Hayworth in this cover photo of Anne Hathaway (below)?

If so, the designers might take note that they've removed her neck, which also deletes the sinuous line created when Ms. Hayworth raises her arms.  And, of course, Anne Hathaway's arms are scarily shaded.

The oddest area, though, is from chin to breast to shoulder.  It looks utterly unnatural.

Poor Ms. Hathaway is left with a stumpy, very un-Gilda silhouette, which is not only unflattering, but inaccurate.

Last Dance; or, School of Shoes

Just popping in to say how much I adore this NYT article on shoe-making. 

And here's a link to the slideshow of shoe school.  Ahh, the court shoe!

I want to enroll . . .

Jane Eyredale

I'm teaching Jane Eyre at the moment and thinking of a number of Jane-related projects that I've been wanting to work on.  None are scholarly; all would require a great deal of time, and I keep returning them to the back of my mental file cabinet.

But I feel compelled to share one on the (high) heels of a recent comment from my cutting-edge-yet-gentle-reader WendyB on this post. 

For I have wanted to film, for a good 15 years, now, an all-dog update of that classic novel, which I would call Jane Eyredale. 

Can you not imagine a noble but gruff Newfoundland as Mr. Rochester?  A miniature poodle as Adele?  And my beloved Marilla (a bulldog) was slated to play Mrs. Fairfax.

If any potential backers are reading this, drop me a line.  And let this post serve as copyright notice!  Don't get any sneaky ideas, James Cameron. 

(The image above is from a Bruce Weber shoot for Vogue.  If I recall, a dignified bulldog played the reverend.  And then probably drank too much punch.)

Craving: Black Seamed Cigarette Pants

Perhaps it's in anticipation of skiing events at the Winter Olympics, but I was struck today by a style memory that just won't shake: the raised-center-seam cigarette pant in black.

I had a pair eons ago, which I wore with half-inch platform two-tone brogues, a zipped full-turtleneck sweater (Gstaad-style, you know), and loved, loved, loved until they wore out.**

Here's a detail from a Piazza Sempione pair, in sateen, though I'd prefer matte:

I don't know whether Laura Petrie and Ann-Margret's seams were raised at center, but these iconic photos have the spirit.

Although I can't seem to shake my desire, the above women can, well, shake their seams.

**The Gstaad stuff is ironic; I'm still smarting from the time in 1992 when I waited six months to get an appointment with Frederic Fekkai to cut my very long hair, only to be bumped because he had broken his leg skiing in Gstaad.  I was almost in tears when I saw him cutting hair in his cast--not for him, but for my selfish little self who felt slighted that this first-time client didn't rate.  Long hair story short: the talented Mark Garrison cropped my hair that day.

Gaga for Bedlingtons: Grammy Awards 2010

Did Lady Gaga really wear Armani Prive during her songs?

Because to my eye

--and the divine WendyB agreed over tweets--


these shoulders resemble Bedlingtons.

McQueen, m'Lady?

A Tail of Three Heels: Kitten, Mid, or Skyscraper?

      
Multiple Choice: which heel height is right?

Hello Kitty? (Anne Klein kitten heel, advertised in Sunday’s NYT):

Lioness? (Givenchy mid heel at Browns):

Cats? Puhleessssse. (Rupert Sanderson python skyscraper heel at Browns):

J Crew's Grammar Lesson

Correct me if the grammar police aren't necessary,

but do women really want a dangling modifier

right there

on our bikini?