Posts from — November 2009

Hey! I found these lovely images of comparisons between
galaxies and Peter Pilotto’s fabulous galaxy inspired prints
and dresses:

Peter Pilotto Galaxy inspired collection.

Aren’t they begging to be worn with some fabulous McQueen
shoes rather than those deja-vu cowboy booties?

Quiero:

Quiero:

Quiero:

Quiero:

Quiero:

Oh dear! I look at these clothes and shoes and then look at my
wardrobe and can’t help the feeling that my clobber might be a
little 100000.00000000000.00000.000.000000000 zillion
galaxies behind.

Crumbs! and here I was thinking that I was so avant-garde with
my vintage hight-top peep toe booties:

Oh! How I wish that I could go off to buy a pair of McQueens and a
Pilotto dress right now, rather than having to hit Hamleys to get a
Thomas the Tank Engine for my little nephew Manel.

I am dreading it, and it’s raining cats and dogs and Hamleys is bound to be
full of desperate pram-pushing, elbow hitting, yummy mummies and kids running
loose throwing stuff at each other… among another billion xmas shoppers. Meh.
But the thought of the smile on the face of the little beggar, who absolutely adores
Thomas, nearly as much as I adore McQueen is the best motivation…

Apart from a little help from today’s song which I’ve been humming all
day long today:

KIDDING!

Is this one:

Xmas shopping S-U-C-K-S!

PS – If you my dear millionaire reader with 1000000,00000,000000,0000,
0000000,000000 $$$$$$££££££££££ want to make ME smile too this Xmas,
then of course that you are more than welcome to buy ME a pair of McQueen’s.
I am a UK size 4 and you know where I live!

XO
Nona

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“Once upon a time a very poor woodcutter lived in a tiny cottage in the forest with his two children, Hansel and Gretel…”

Whilst I was busy working on a post for MM featuring the gorgeous Lily Cole (you can
read the post HERE) I came across this fabulous editorial which is styled by Vogue’s stylist
extraordinaire Grace Coddington and photographed by no other than the amazing Annie
Leibovitz. It totally disctracted me from my work, it is just absolutely divine!

Inspired by the Metropolitan Opera’s production of “Hansel and Gretel”, the story features
Lily Cole and Andrew Garfield and comes with a little surprise called GAGA… yup! the Lady
herself, who plays the wicked witch.

The complete story will appear in the December 2009 issue of Vogue. Must get! In the
meantime, I will carry on enjoying the images below whilst munching on some little
gingerbread men and listening to Tom Waits singing “Chocolate Jesus”…

XO
Nona

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A lovely gentleman invited me to go to the ballet the other night, so who was I
to say no to the prospect of watching a grand show, wearing my new Alexander
McQueen style dress that had patienly been waiting for an outing and enjoy a glass
of champagne (or two) even if it was a Monday night. I actually prefer to go to
the theatre/ballet during the week as the nights seem to be less packed and the
crowd are true fans of the trade.

I had to warn Dylan though, upon arrival, that once the show started,
he would have to excuse the complete absence of all of my senses, as I
tend to get totally immersed in the exquisite music and completely
hypnotized by the tutus… and all those lovely costume pieces which
are to die for.

The show which we were heading to see was ‘The Sleeping Beauty’, one of the
most lavish theatrical events at the Royal Opera House in London. With the
original St Petersburg staging of ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ from 1890, the show
is a rather spectacular illustration of the Russian Imperial style at its zenith.
Today, it remains as the cornerstone of The Royal Ballet’s repertoire and it is
one of the most traditional ballet shows that re-appears annually in London,
come this time of the year.

Being the ballet-loving-fashionista that I am, (and erm, a frustrated
ballerina) I had already – of course – seen the show last year, but you
will never hear me say no, I can’t or I am too busy if the offer includes
the words Royal Opera House.

So, as the show started to unfold with the expected grandeur of the stage
and the eerie costumes, the main heroine of ‘The Sleeping Beauty’, Princess
Aurora – who that night was being played by the fabulous Tamara Rojo –
made her first appearance. Huge cheers and applause by the loving public
followed her delicate little steps, as she made her way into the main stage,
seeming unaware of her delicate grace, beauty and poise.

During the Rose Adagio – She appears dancing with the four princes 
which her parents introduce to her, as her prospective husbands.
Each prince offers her a rose – hence the name of this segment being
‘The Rose Adagio’ – and each prince becomes her partner, during the
gentle and slow dance routine, where on her points and with her back
leg gracefully bent at waist height behind her, she reminds us all of
the reasons why she is taking centre stage that night.

As she interchanges partners, keeping frighteningly long balances
in between, the atmosphere of the whole theatre is so tense that it
seems that even the clocks stop. The audience holds their breath
and watches her every move with an eagle eye. Our beloved Aurora
remains in perfect position, briefly supported by lowering a hand
to keep her balance, as the prospective princes approach her in turns.

Unfortunately I couldn’t find a clip of her doing it, but you can watch
her colleague (another fantastic prima ballerina of the Royal Opera
House) the gorgeous Alina Cojocaru doing this very same routine on
the clip below:

That routine is an incredibly hard test for even the most experienced
of all ballerinas, and both Tamara and Alina, deliver it beautifully,
proving that they are true fairy tale princesses.

The auditorium echoes with a storm of applause as Tamara triumphally
turns to the arabesque that signals the end of the dance.

Tamara Rojo is one of my favourite prima-ballerinas of the Royal Ballet.
It is such a pleasure to watch her in centre stage, be it on ‘The Sleeping
Beauty’ or ‘The Swan Lake’ (in which she does 32 fouettés!) The perfection
of her technique is just unbelievable. I could watch her dance forever,  
just like I used to watch the ballerinas dancing inside my old wooden
musical box. I would spend hours in my bedroom, contemplating them 
in owe, until my thumb was sore from turning the key so many times,
and I would end up falling asleep, wrapped in pastel tutu dreams…

The fairy tale goes on, with the appearance of the wicked fairy,
who casts an evil curse upon poor little Aurora, making her fall
asleep for a hundred years. The Prince is then guided through the
wilderness which hides the castle, by the lovely lilac fairy who
helps him find his way. He lays onto the bed where Aurora calmly
sleeps, awaiting her faith and Aurora is finally awaken by the ardent
kiss of her Prince Charming. Aww! - Prince Florimund in this case,
is faultlessly played by the fantastic classisist Johan Kobborg.

Johan is not only a dancer but also an actor and he is a fantastic
dance partner, whose sole aim seems to be making the ballerina glow.
You can’t get more prince charming than that really!

When Rojo and Kobborg are in each others arms, wrapped in
perfectly smooth control, their dreamlike movements give you
the feeling of being inside a true fairy tale.

And as if all that wasn’t enough fairy-tale-ness for one night,
the show also includes delightful apperances of various other
fairy tale characters, who dance enchanting little routines,
immaculately dressed in the most gorgeous costumes.

My favourites were ‘Puss in Boots’ where the dancer dressed as puss flirts
with the masked, white faced ballerina whose tutu even has a tail!!! Awww!!
I had to pinch myself at times, as I thought that I had died and gone to dress
up heaven, it was so beautiful.

The next act was just as beautiful, as a rather sexy red riding hood,
appears being chased around the stage by the evil wolf. Aaawwww!
I want her outfit so much!

Add to all that the fantastic orquestra, which accompanies the story
playing a repertoire of the great classics by the glorious Pyotr Il’yich
Tchaikovsky and… two intervals of sipping champagne at the bar and
your evening could not get any grander.

A must see if you are in London:

“As you grow up (as a ballerina) you see that if you want to get to re-create
certain roles you have to become a principal dancer. If you want to be Juliet,
if you want to be Manon, if you want to be all those things you have to get
there and that is why I like being a principal dancer. That is the only reason,
because it gives me the chance to be all those roles.” - Tamara Rojo.

“One of the things that fulfills my life is the fact that I can be so many people.
I don’t know anyone that is totally happy with who they are. I think that it is
very difficult to look at oneself in the mirror and say: this is it and I am perfect.
I don’t feel like that. And I have the opportunity to stop being Tamara for a few
hours a day and that is one of the most beautiful things that ballet has brought
to me. I can scape from reality whenever I want and I don’t have to take any
drugs for it! (giggles). I can live like, every day, I can go to the supermarket,
buy my groceries, come home and watch tele and then I can dance and that is
something beyond just living… for me.” – Tamara Rojo.

“When I jump, I feel or I think I can fly and when I turn, I think
I’ll never stop and when I balance I think I am forever there but
the reality is not that. I have an idea of what I would like it to be
like and… I don’t seem to be able to get there, so I have to keep
trying.” – Tamara Rojo.

You can watch her rehearsals here.

Now here is the “Waltz of the Sleeping Beauty” by Tchaikovsky:

xoxo
Nonita

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PLAY!

Bjork – It’s Oh So Quiet
Uploaded by scopitones. – Explore more music videos.

it’s. oh. so quiet
it’s. oh. so still

you’re all alone
and so peaceful until…

you fall in love
zing boom!

the sky up above
zing boom!

is caving in
Wow bam!

you’ve never been so nuts about a guy

you wanna laugh you wanna cry

you cross your heart and hope to die

’til it’s over and then
it’s nice and quiet

but soon again
starts another big riot

you blow a fuse
zing boom!

the devil cuts loose
zing boom!

so what’s the use
Wow bam!
of falling in love

it’s. oh. so quiet
it’s. oh. so still
you’re all alone

and so peaceful until…

you ring the bell
bim bam

you shout and you yell
hi ho ho
you broke the spell

gee. this is swell you almost have a fit
this guy is “gorge” and i got hit
there’s no mistake this is it

’til it’s over and then
it’s nice and quiet

but soon again
starts another big riot

you blow a fuse
zing boom!

the devil cuts loose

zing boom!
so what’s the use
Wow bam!
of falling in love

the sky caves in

the devil cuts loose
you blow blow blow blow blow your fuse
when you’ve fallen in love

Ssshhhhhh…

XO
Nona

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The little ball is going to disappear daddy
No, it doesn’t end.
Tell them what you’ve got
A drawing
And what else
And little toys
And the candy that dad bought you?
And we have a kitty
And we have a kittern
And haven’t you got bears?
I do
Who bought them for you?
Daddy
And Mr Guy, didn’t he give you a bear?
He gave it to me as a present
Who?
Phillip the priest
Phillip the priest didn’t give you a bear
Mr Guy did, Mr Guy gave you this bear that is why he is called Guy
Yes? And that American man? He gave you a bear called Puff.
Puff
Yes
And that pink toy? And that doll with very long legs?
With the long legs?
And that picture that you have there? Who is it of? Who is in that picture?
It’s baby Jesus
Baby Jesus?!?
Yes
No it’s not baby Jesus.
It’s Jordi
It’s Jordi
It’s Jordi, and who is in this other picture?
A bow-wow
And that pretty lady?
Is in the bedroom
What is she doing
She is going for a little stroll
Going for a little stroll?
Yes
Does she guard so that the witches don’t come in? hey?
Yes. Yesterday there was a big witch.
Yes?
Yes
And what did you do to her?
She scared me
She scared you?
Yes
Don’t you make witches run away? Who makes witches run away?
Me
With what
With the Smurfs, they look after…
They look after?
Yes
And here is a picture of a cholita
And the smurfs look after her so that the witches don’t take her away
Yesterday there was a witch…. A big one.
And where is she now?
She is gone, far away.
And the moon?
Hasn’t come out.
Hasn’t come out yet? Does she come out in the evenings?
Lets go and look at the little horses and see if they are sleeping
Later, at 5
No
Yes
It’s already 5
What’s that out there?
Fire
And the fire makes smoke?
Yes
And who lit up that fire?
Alejo did
What is it that you have there?
Little horses
Who gave you those little horses
The smurfs
The Smurfs?
Yes
Look, when is windy, this spins by itself.
Show me?
There isn’t any wind here, you have to take it outside
And where is Picasso?
Where is the picture of Picasso?
There

GOOD AFTERNOON SIR! – Pause.

1983.

Last christmas I had the best present ever! I got given
a cassette wich contained the above conversation between 3 years
old mini-me and my dad, an afternoon sometime back in 1983.

Proof! witches and horses already figured inside my little
head… and art, Picasso’s.

As I grew up, the obsession with “little horses” – as I called them
continued… I remember being the happiest girl in the world when
daddy bought me my first pony: She-Ra’s horse. I l-o-v-e-d She-Ra
but above all, her horse. I would even sleep clutching my horse…

…hence the obsession with living in a castle, being able to fly,
playing dress up, horses and the use of the word fabulous.

So, here are some of my favourite horse inspired things:

This lovely T-shirt from Urban Outfitters:

A phantasmagoric carrousel, I love it!

Lovely Emma Watson with ponies!!

The cutest horse wall paper ever!

Polly Borland’s model dressed as a horse (ish).

Black or white?

Le carrusel de Chanel:

A lovely Xmas tree horse:

A cookie maker in the shape of a little pony!

The gray horse of my dreams:

Luella’s fab hunting inspired collection:

Another spooky carrousel part of the Spectres exhibition
at the Victoria and Albert Museum:

My obsession: Timmy Woods wooden horse head bag
Please Santa, I have been good this year!!!!
(Carrie Bradshaw wore it in one fabulously styled outfit
in one of the series episode’s)

More from Luella’s hunting collection:

Timmy Woods little lucky horse bag:

I adore that fox jumper and why not the unusual
horse bag:

Cute hey?

More Luella:

Topshop’s horse print shirt:

Love this:

Luella, Luella, Luella… love all those jackets I would
adore the winter if I had them in my wardrobe. Nearly
died today when reading that she will stop trading.
The credit crunch apparently…

My gray horse again (one day!):

In my head, heaven is lit up by carousel lights:

I adore this horse inspired story from ID magazine,
that suit rocks!!!

Gibril George photographred by Tim Allen for
i-D Magazine:

Love, love, love this:

Favourite horse painting by Stubbs:

Guess who is playing with my gray horse…

Equestrian inspired catwalk…

Sweeeeet!!!!

And today’s song…? YOU CHOOSE!
First come, first served.

XO
Nona

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One of my favourite artists is Rene Magritte, the Belgian
surrealist. His work is both eerie and haunting at the same
time. There is a slightly phantasmagoric aspect in his paintings
and in the manner in which he manipulated light and shadow.

The first time that I stood in front of one of his paintings
I felt like if I was staring at my dreams. I love the bowler
hat, the men in suits falling from the sky like rain, the umbrella,
the apple, the pipe but my favourite has to be “The Lovers”.

Now imagine my joy when I found this Magritte inspired
images…

Magritte’s “Son of Man” the iconic bowler and apple
painting:

And the girl version…

And even a cute little necklace:

Here is another one with another of Magritte’s symbols
the umbrella:

And one more, in the wilds:

How fabulous is that they laid out a copy of his painting
over the facade of the Magritte’s museum:

Here is a fantastic fashion editorial inspired in Magritte:

How about this fabulous cloud inspired hair and make up
shots, they are amazing! I soo want white hair…

And here are a couple of the he and she fashion shots
by an editorial called “The Cloud Watchers”:

Catwalk inspired by clouds in paintings of Turner:

Zac Posen’s cloud inspired collection:

Christopher Kane’s cloud dress and jacket:

Some fantastic fashion/cloud comparisons:

Le Magritte again:

and where have I seen this before?

Magritte’s boots:

I wonder if they were the inspiration for these rather
unusual heels?

I have always been told that my head is way high up in
the clouds… that I should stop living in dreamland and
that I should get checked back into reality.

To all those people, all I have to say is…

Hey you, get offa my cloud!

Never stop dreaming… or cloud watching.

XO
Nona

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Ever thought of killing someone? No? Oh come on be
honest, now that’s better! I know. Me too but I never
managed to pluck the courage to even kill a bug, so
nevermind my ex-boyfriend. Although… I must confess
that after having a little look at the below babies, I
found myself actually saying the words: “Oh! aur revoir
mon cherie” (French for: die you sucker!!!!!)

Aren’t they cute?

I’ll have the Chanel gold gun please Karl, s’il vous plait my darling!

I love this game-like shot with a model surrounded by soldiers.

And this war-inspired cover of VOGUE Italia:

No words…

This is how le French go to war, totally chic non?

Cool lass:

I want one!

Oooh, I love this…

Those are some lashes! love the lipstick too.

Isn’t this aquarelle lovely?

I love the middle one.

Did you know that during World War II women working in
factories made not only the uniforms but also the amunitions,
weapons and even the airplanes that men used at war?

I love the fact that she is wearing nail polish. War?
what war?

Balmain, Balmain. I want that one too! I had the chance
to try it on and it weighs a ton! All those beautifull encrusted
little crystals… (hence me not being able to run away with it)

Ever thought that a burka could be sexy…

The controversial “bullets for peace” necklaces, I
want one too:

I love everything about this:

Thank God for Banksy:

Heels to kill for…

A model displays a creation by designer Little Shilpa during
the second day of Lakme fashion week in Mumbai in March:

An apocaliptic vision of a war-torn London, as an army of
fashion soldiers moves forward. It is the year 2222.
Vogue doesn’t exist. Neither does Armani.

I love these adorable little army men earrings and pins
that my friend the lovely Jaime makes:

Aren’t they the cutest?

To learn how to make your own visit her crafts blog:

http://www.letsgetdomesticated.blogspot.com/

Now remember: kiling other people is bad, it makes the
baby Jesus cry. So don’t do it.

Here is the song of the day… guessed by who yet?

XO
Nona

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