It's Raining ___?

Today, in the car, I was grooving to the Weathergirls ripping into “It’s Raining Men.”

It’s raining many things here on the east coast—sideways, gently, torrentially—but it isn’t raining men. Mr. C would call this atmosphere “slimr,” which is Icelandic for wet, wet, miserable weather.

I have my umbrella (from Liberty of London), though I didn’t think to bring my boots (Le Chameau). But even though I’m only half equipped for the watery day, my two youngest children are literally singing and dancing by the pool, delighted for the soaking.

Getting Dizzy

When I designed my Mad (Wo) Man avatar, put her in a boardroom to make a presentation on lingerie, and quipped about Midge the brassiere illustrator in Hitchcock’s Vertigo, I hadn’t ever seen the Mad Men show, nor did I know anything about it other than that Jon Hamm was the star.

Tonight I watched the first three episodes on DVD and was floored (pun intended) to see that not only its opening credits (the falling man) were borrowed from Vertigo but that Midge also appeared, in name, as a boho illustrator of puppies (often a code word for bosoms). And I suppose that the German analyst in the trim gray skirt suit was just a coincidence.

So tell me, gentle readers, should I begin a psychic network on the side? And oh yes--I both love and loathe the show.

When Miuccia Met Morris

How I love it when designers take William Morris prints as inspiration (or C. F. A. Voysey, for that matter).

To wit, Prada has an art nouveau-inspired resort collection, which I’ve put together in a collage because I think that these colorful prints and shapes are best seen in a jumble. (Click to enlarge for a clearer view.)

One piece is *interesting* on its own; eight are a jolly riot (well, to me). (Oh, those amazing little handkerchief bloomers!)

Portrait of the Professor as a Mad (Wo)Man

Oh, here I am, giving a talk on Vertigo, specifically, on the character of Midge, the brassiere designer who would probably like to start a men’s line with Scottie as her fit model.

The only anachronism in this tableau is the fringe; I like to show my forehead.

And, well, the cigarette isn’t usually in my personal pictures either, but it does work here as a pre-modern pointer; I like how its glowing ash anticipates those red laser thingies that business types use in presentations.

For yet another disclaimer, I don’t watch TV, have never seen Mad Men on DVD, but am happy to borrow this idea to make your own Mad (Wo)Man avatar from the always current Deep Glamour. Do let me know if you design your own!

Miss C Takes (Another) Trip

Mr. C has been reading some well-written rock biographies during our trip, the latest of which is Sharon Lawrence’s study of Jimi Hendrix.

I popped into the narrative when she began talking about where Jimi shopped, particularly Granny Takes A Trip in London.

The above image is one of Granny’s ever evolving storefronts, an homage to Jean Harlow.

And below is one of the founders, Nigel Waymouth, wearing a Granny printed jacket.

Long before I saw this jacket, I was imagining what Granny would conjure up for its rockers and dandies about town, and I thought that a slim-cut silk blazer from a peacock-print Liberty fabric would be perfect.

As it happens, Liberty is in *trip* mode itself, with its new line of self-described art fabrics with a travel theme:

And as Liberty is having its famous sale right now, how I wish I were tripping over there right now. I’d get this great little insect beaded bag.



I daresay, it’s really bugging me that I’m not there . . .

Mooning About

I’m generally not fond of high-maintenance fingernail polishes.

It’s mais, non! to a French manicure; jamais! to its American cousin, that interloping French pedicure, and pourquois? to the chipped nail look (although I note here that Helena Christensen rocked it in the nineties).

But the half moon manicure has me in thrall.

Sure, it’s got shades of Gatsby, but the look can be aggressively postmodern too. The trick is to choose a dark, plummy, or jet color in a high lacquered gloss.

The photo below even incorporates a half moon with what I’m calling a wing tip.

This is a fall look, not really one for floaty summer dresses, and one that could punctuate a style effectively.

So are you for a full moon (entirely polished nail) or a half moon?

Of Figureheads and Figures, II

As you may know, one of the most romantic and imagination-inspiring images for me is a ship’s figurehead.

Perhaps now I know why: yesterday I visited a museum that had material on display about my great, great uncle, who was a ship’s captain until he died of yellow fever in 1892. He sailed several vessels up and down the Atlantic Ocean: to New York to pick up a cargo of cocoa beans; to Newfoundland to deliver bales of needed hay and other produce to “the Rock.”

One of his ships was called the Camellia.

I can imagine a lovely figurehead draped in a Grecian column, perhaps with a camellia in her hair, representing fragrant beauty.

Or maybe she’d be depicted in the style of one of Barbara Cooney’s fanciful illustrations, gracing the prow.

Wouldn’t it be lovely to be a carver of figureheads?