cinematic style (sort of) - Stana Katic's coats in Season 3 of Castle

screencaps

Sure, she's got great hair. She rocks an equipment silk shirt and a pair of flared jeans like it's her business. She's got the masculine-chic dress of a pretty girl doin' a man's job down pat (big watch, turtle neck sweaters, heaps of blazers. No skirts. Ever). And I guess it would be hard to look bad when you've got Nathan Fillion running around after you drooling like a dog and turning you into a bad-guy ass-kicker known as Nikki Heat. But it's not about any of that. Not at all. It's all about those beautiful, beautiful coats. Belted camel numbers, collarless crimson pieces, cropped pea coats, sweeping - yet still fitted - military toppers, the kind of leather jacket that would make James Dean swoon and trenches galore (well, she is a detective). Girlfriend - or whoever styles girlfriend, you genius you - has clearly taken a leaf out of the Detective Benson playbook, and for that I, and all other devotees of crime time, owe you a debt of gratitude. There's something about a lady policeman rocking a turtleneck and a cashmere coat, you know? There's something about how great a belted coat tied tight at the waist looks as you duck under police tape. Not that I would know anything about that, of course. I thought I had a wardrobe of coats. This girl is a professional coat-wearer. And damn she looks good doing it!

X

You have read this article coats / films / movies / New York / style / TV with the title TV. You can bookmark this page URL https://startthefire-cafagesta.blogspot.com/2012/07/cinematic-style-sort-of-stana-katic.html. Thanks!

deadlines

source

I'm on deadline and I wish I could say that my life is looking like this at the moment - all cashmere cardigans and endless cups of tea and writing cross-legged on the kitchen bench - but really I'm a mess on my couch in sweatshirt and 20-year old Bath tee shirt watching The Voice finale (which probably isn't at all helpful for the quality of my prose, hmpphhh) and desperately trying to NOT tweet a million times how much I love Keith Urban (sorry. I caved. once). Maybe when I live in New York in an airy, light-filled Soho loft writing will look properly glamorous. But until then I'm happy with hair bunched up on my head and holes in my tee shirt and another glass of ice-cold milk.

X

You have read this article celebrity / films / me / New York / TV / writing with the title TV. You can bookmark this page URL https://startthefire-cafagesta.blogspot.com/2012/06/deadlines.html. Thanks!

the art of giving: part three

Part one: Luxury,  Part two: Jewellery

Part Three: Culture

We are always told that when it comes to gifting it’s the thought that counts, and there’s no greater present than one that makes you think.  A set of Penguin Great Loves will remind you about what’s important in the world, of broken hearts, and bareness and rough ocean seas. Carine Roitfeld’s Irreverentwill remind you about what’s not important, but still amazing all the same, like a rosy-lipped Gemma Ward, poised with scissors over her curled eyelashes, or a Le Smoking, caught by Helmut Newton in an endless Parisian street. Poolside with Slim Aarons is the present for summer babies, with their permanently bronzed limbs and their sunflower-like tendency to chase the golden rays.

Keep track of next year’s important dates with a Moleskine 2012 Diary. Ernest Hemingway used to scribble in one over black coffee at Harry’s Bar, watching the Gondolas go by. That’s a gift of real promise. Or, if you want to inspire, try Guy Bourdin Polaroids. Featuring 98 never-published images, Bourdin’s trademark surreal sartorial imagery is captured in that signature, saturated Polaroid colour-scheme, revealing an eerie, broody sexuality and an undercurrent of danger throughout. For the photography buff and the fashion fan alike.

And for when it all gets too much, when the fashion is too cerebral, the stories too tragic, the Roitfeld imagery too, well, French, then it’s time to wrap up The O.C Box Set and tie a big yellow ribbon around the whole thing and call it a day. Give it to the people who watched it with you the first time round, and had a little crush on Seth and an even bigger crush on Marissa’s wardrobe. It might not be that beautiful baby pink 2.55 that she swung from her perfectly manicured fingers, but it’s almost as good. That must be in the next gift guide.

 ///

Clockwise from top, Penguin Great Loves, from $6.89 at The Book Depository, Moleskine Weekly Notebook, €14 (EUR) from Moleskine, Pool Side with Slim Aarons, $58.36 from The Book Depository, The O.C Season 2, $47.99 from JB Hi-fi, Guy Bourdin Polaroids, $39.04 from The Book Depository, Irreverent by Carine Roitfeld, $139.95 from Ariel Books.

As before, Collage by Talisa, Words by Me

X 

the art of giving part one, two, three and four

You have read this article books / carine roitfeld / christmas / presents / TV with the title TV. You can bookmark this page URL https://startthefire-cafagesta.blogspot.com/2011/12/the-art-of-giving-part-three.html. Thanks!

oh dear

 winner Amanda

L: runner up Kelsey, R: second runner up Sophie

Ah next top model. Can't make it through one season without drama. Last year was Cassi's "boganista" antics, the season before that it was the horrible tall poppy syndrome regarding "real" model Alice. And this season, well, let's say it has been a cock up of epic proportions. That recurring dream where you read the wrong name out in competitions actually came true for host Sarah Murdoch last night, when she read out "Kelsey" as in the winner, when in fact it was "Amanda". After about 20 seconds of Kelsey's elation and thank you speech Sarah started murmuring "Oh no, Oh no". You could see on Kelsey's face the moment she realised she hadn't won, and it was crushing. But, as a credit to both Sarah and Kelsey, both handled the situation with grace and professionalism. Kelsey supported Sarah while she, i believe the technical term is, FREAKED OUT over this colossal mistake, and then Amanda while she disbelievingly received her crown. The whole thing was just ridiculous, and I'm not just saying this because I'm a Kelsey fan. Amanda was my second choice, and I didn't want her to win like this, and I didn't want Kelsey to lose like this either.

Foxtel agrees. They've dug deep into their pockets to find a prize for Kelsey too, $25 000 in cash and a trip to New York to meet with modelling agencies. It's the least they could do. It was just human error, but it was human error on a ben hur scale, and it was a potentially upsetting thing for all involved. There is even talk now of running both kelsey's and Amanda's harpers bazaar covers next week. I would actually want to buy Kelsey's i think it practically sings of November, but I am torn because I feel that it doesn't really make it fair to Amanda, who won (despite everything) and therefore deserves the spoils of her prize, including the Harpers cover. Here are all three of the finalist's covers. Which one would you buy?

With the election, the AFL grand final draw, and now this, it hasn't been a great month or so for Australian competitions, has it?

X

You have read this article australia / editorial / fashion / harpers bazaar / magazines / models / photos / pictures / sydney / TV with the title TV. You can bookmark this page URL https://startthefire-cafagesta.blogspot.com/2010/09/oh-dear.html. Thanks!

fur thoughts

If I was to have a fur coat - which is a moot point considering it never gets cold enough in Sydney for a duffel coat, let alone a fur one - but if I was, for arguments sake, to get one, I'd want one just like Carrie's. That collar is absolutely perfect - big and wide and perfect for drawing up around your neck in the cold or letting hang off your shoulders, cape-like. I like that this fur coat would pop up in the series at the most unexpected times. When Carrie was going to the baseball game and didn't want to be under-dressed in case she ran into Big - just add cocktail dress and heels. When she went shopping and returned home to find the Senator on her door step - just add pearls and girlie gingham. In the final episode, in the final scene, when we finally learn Big's name (John, of course!) - just add, well, everything you can imagine, Neon, peep toe, full skirts, tulle, studded belt, and a manolo blahnik bag. I love how Carrie seemed to run around in this fur coat in the mythical New York winters - where it was cold enough for fur, but not enough to wear tights. I hate tights myself, so I am quite fond of this idea. Having experienced a real New York winter I know it's manifestly ludicrous, but it's certainly a nice idea. 

People always talk about how you can wear an item dressed up and dressed down. Well, you can never dress down a fur coat. But who cares, really? If you didn't want glamour, why are you wearing one in the first place? I'm not sure how I feel yet about fur. I don't have a problem with eating meat or wearing leather, so I'm not sure that I should, logically, have a problem with fur. But so far all I can bring myself to buy is the fake stuff. I'm just not sure, which probably means I need to write a pro/con list or have a good natter about it with my sister, who has the answer to every question. But.. and this is a big but. I do like this fur coat. In fact, I love it. It's fabulous! And since Sex and the City first introduced that word to my vocabulary, I think it's reasonable that I use it here. 

What are your thoughts on fur? 

X

You have read this article clothes / clothing / fashion / fur / photos / pictures / sex and the city / shopping / style / TV with the title TV. You can bookmark this page URL https://startthefire-cafagesta.blogspot.com/2010/06/fur-thoughts.html. Thanks!

sex and the city

I know, i know i know... it's turned into this mass-audience, commercialised, squeeze-every-dollar-out-of-the-bad-boy drivel. But i remember when it was great. When the show was real. Hadley Freeman wrote that one of her favourite things about the show was how there was some poignancy, some heart-breaking truth to the storylines. She used the example - my favourite, favourite storyline - of how Carrie can't force herself to marry Aidan, a guy who is perfect in every damn way, no matter how hard she tries. She hopes and dreams and wishes, but she just can't. And there is something so real about that, sometimes people who are perfect for each other just can't make it work, and it's sad, and awful and heart-breaking. But it's life. The tv show was life - bittersweet, belly-laughing life. And i love it. 

I didn't love the first movie, but i liked it, and let's be honest, I'm probably not going to love the second movie either, but my heart still sings for those four girls. Because they've made me laugh at things I never thought I'd find funny, they made me cry at things I never thought I'd find sad, and they taught me that you could see a movie by yourself, you could have lunch with your three best friends, you could go out to dinner on valentines day with your mate and not feel sorry for anything. Yes, the clothes were incredible - the good, the bad, and the downright ugly - and yes, there were moments of complete over the top hilarity, and even a couple that made me wince with awkwardness. 

No matter how many bad reviews the film gets, I'm going to see it. Because I remember the tv show. And it was great.

X

You have read this article films / love / movies / pictures / sex and the city / TV with the title TV. You can bookmark this page URL https://startthefire-cafagesta.blogspot.com/2010/05/sex-and-city.html. Thanks!

hello loverrrr!

This week has been especially unproductive, i've got a load of work to do and i haven't done any of it because I got sidetracked by my collection of sex and the city DVDs... Mindless and charming entertainment that doesn't masquerade as anything more than feminine fun. I had so much fun accompanying Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha through 6 seasons of relationships, drama and beautiful shoes! And then the creative juices got flowing and all I could think about was Carrie's incredible mix-match style and making some polyvores of the whole thing. I'm not quite sure whether Fabulous Future Me is Carrie, or if she's just channelling Carrie. But hey, they're both fabulous! 

Monday

Marni duster, christopher kane dress, marni necklace, tom binns cuff, christian louboutin shoes, lanvin purse. 
Oh Monday is a great day to be in love! The start of the week starts to look brighter and better when you're in love. A working week is no longer 5 days of drudgery and work but rather 5 days of dinner dates, movie meets and late night trysts. So why not start the week with fun colours and bright sunshine? THe interconnecting velvet and sheer stripes of your shift dress clash marvelously well with the turquoise of your duster and the saffron of your purse. Together with fun statement jewelry that glitters and shoes that flutter - super high of course - you're ready to hit the streets in style! 

Tuesday
marni duster, forever 21 slip, muriel grateau earrings, playtex watch, christian louboutin shoes, stella mccartney purse. 
The best thing about wearing a sexy slip to work is that you can go straight from work to night without changing anything at all. Lunch meetings and content run throughs are serviced well with the bright colours of your accesories and the floral pattern of your cute duster coat (perfect for this transitional weather!). And when you go to drinks with the girls later that night you don't even have to go home, the sexy slip, the elaborate earrings, the cut out shoes... Night time meets day in the best possible way! 

Wednesday
Jaeger blazer, lanvin dress, mawi necklace, manolo blahnik heels, valentino kaleido tote bag. 
Ooooh night times are fun. You can get dressed up, all sparkly, and go dancing with friends, be a bright young thing with your gay pals. Nothing says a night on the town like glitter and sparkle, and you've got enough on it for 6 women in atlantic city. The metallic sheen of your lanvin dress, an embellished tote and heels topped off with a man's jacket and a hot pink necklace. Just enough brightness and glitterati for a late night of cocktails and laughing till your cheeks hurt. With heels this high you feel like you have vertigo, but hey, the view looks good from the top! 

Thursday
jil sander blazer, maison martin margiela sweater, prism glasses, american eagle boyfriend jeans, giuseppe zanotti shoes, DE and G bag. 
Thursday is a great day for shopping. The stores are open later, and the sales assistants are too tired from a wednesday out to push the hard sale, and you and your friends can mill around in beautiful department stores and boutiques trying on dress after dress, slipping your perfectly manicured feet into sky high stilettos, movie montages in the change rooms with tailored jackets and swingy skirts. You find the best thing to wear out shopping are comfortable clothes like loose fitting boyfriend jeans, comfortable sweaters and a big bag (for holding all your new purhases). Bright and colourful shoes make you feel sunny and fabulous.  

Friday
yves saint laurent bangle, lanvin top, maison martin margiela cardigan, marni bracelet, dries van noten shoes, christopher kane skirt, fendi baguette. 
Thank God it's Friday, right? Even if the week has been punctured by lovely brunches, dates and nights out with friends, there is nothing, nothing, better than that friday afternoon feeling where you watch the clock and countdown the seconds till the weekend. You always feel that your friday outfit needs to be suitably fun, and with bold jewelry, glittery tops, bows, sheer panelling and checked heels. All together it was a bit of a madhouse, but it worked alright especially with the big smile on your face and the swing in your step. Fun, crazy and fabulous, just like you!
X

You have read this article clothes / fashion / inspiration / outfit / photos / polyvore / sex and the city / shopping / style / TV with the title TV. You can bookmark this page URL https://startthefire-cafagesta.blogspot.com/2009/09/hello-loverrrr.html. Thanks!

putting it to bed

this is crazy! am in the newsroom and have just filed my first news story... i'm going to be on tv! can you believe it! haha i look terrible, i don't look the part at all (hello josh goot tye dye skirt, flowy stella mccartney black jersey top and my boxy topshop swing coat a la chungster) but hopefully the story sounds alright. it's only a couple of minutes long anyway, so my ugly mug won't be on tv for long, painfully extended shots.

don't think i could be a TV journalist though, feel a little flat out after today, interviews, two shots, natsoc, all sorts of weird and wonderful things. I definitely prefer print to broadcast, it seems more concrete and less judgemental. But i have enjoyed working in TV this past week immensely. even if i've just been writing newstreader voice overs and holding up fleckies.

Will be back in sydney tomorrow! sorry to have missed you all, a quick glance at bloglovin' tells me that i have over 150 unread posts... goodbye social life! and who needs uni anyway?

X

ps it's channel 9 regional news, but i'm getting a dvd copy.. if i can stomach it i'll put it up for you all hahaha! can't wait to be back.. we're having cake now we've put the bulletin to bed and i'm leaving *tear*.

You have read this article me / TV with the title TV. You can bookmark this page URL https://startthefire-cafagesta.blogspot.com/2009/07/putting-it-to-bed.html. Thanks!