Posts from — May 2010

Ahoy, matey! I be still obsessed wi’ Buccanneers after seein’ th’ fabulous
Peter Pan play at th’ theatre, so here be a wee bit o’ sea dog inspiration,
mixed in wi’ some lovely sea shanties. Aye!

Did you know that ITLAPD stands for: International Talk Like a Pirate Day,
which is a parodic holiday created in 1996 by John Baur (Ol’ Chumbucket)
and Mark Summers (Cap’n Slappy) of Albany, Oregon, U.S., who proclaimed
September 19 of each year, as the day when everyone in the world should
talk like a pirate?

Now, here is a question fer ya: “Why are Pirates, Pirates?
-Because they Arrrrrrrrrrrr!”

PLAY!

PLAY!

Hill you ho, boys
Let her go, boys
Pull her head round
Now all Together
Hill you ho, boys
Let her go, boys
Sailing homeward, To Mingulay

What care we though white the Minch is
What care we for wind and weather?
Hill you ho, boys
Ev’ry inch is
Bringing us nearer to Mingulay

Hill you ho, boys
Let her go, boys
Pull her head round
Now all Together
Hill you bo, boys
Let her go, boys
Sailing homeward, To Mingulay

Wives are waiting by the Pier side,
They’ve been there since the break of day
Hill you ho, boys
Pull your oars hard
Ere the sun sets at Mingulay

Hill you ho, boys
Let her go, boys
Pull her head round
Now all Together
Hill you ho, boys
Let her go, boys
Sailing homeward, To Mingulay

When the wind is wild and wailing
And the waves mount ever higher
Anxious eyes turn ever seaward
To see us home boys to Mingulay

Hill you ho, boys
Let her go, boys
Pull her head round
Now all Together
Hill you ho, boys
Let her go, boys
Sailing homeward, To Mingulay

Hill you ho, boys
Let her go, boys
Pull her head round
Now all Together
Hill you ho, boys
Let her go, boys
Sailing homeward, To Mingulay

You are without a doubt the worst pirate I’ve ever heard of…

XO
Nona

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When my good friend Lloyd Ellis invited me to see Peter Pan at the Barbican Theatre,
I wasn’t even half expecting to see what I was about to let myself into.

Being the total theatre/ballet junkie that I am, and although I had never really warmed
up to the Disney tales of Captain hook and gay Peter, I thought: why not? it will be fun!
And besides, Lloyd is always such GREAT company and conversation so, to the Barbican
we went!

Although the original plan was to wear an amazing SMV vintage beaded dress that
the lovely Suzanne kindly sent me as a birthday gift, when dressing up times came,
I felt strongly drawn towards wearing a black, boned corset, man’s gray baggy pants
- rolled up, and some ever so girly ‘Ditta von Teese style’ heels instead. Later, I was
glad to see that I was indeed, dressed for the occasion, as Wendy (in the play)
spends most of her time dressed in a tight corset and baggy ankle lenght pants.

The Peter Pan that we went to see was no other than the latest incarnation of J.M.
Barrie’s Peter Pan! played superbly by the National Theatre of Scotland. Best theatre
entrance that I have ever seen and full of bold and unexpected strokes.

Directed by John Tiffany and written by David Greig, this new adaptation of the classic
“fairy play” was astonishly clever, deeply moving, piercingly persuasive and filled with
emotional pain, exciting aerial bungee-jumps and a very handsome looking cast which
displayed not only the tipical Scottish pride (surprise, surprise) so well, but also tons
of charm and wit in a fabulous performance. Here’s a lovely interview with John Tiffany
the director:

Is Kevin Guthrie not the cutest Peter Pan ever girls?! Daniel Radcliffe:
brace yourself mate, someting tells me that Peter Pan is about to take
over Harry Potter! … And! there’s eye candy for the boys too, the lovely
Kirsty MacKay, plays the most enchanting ‘Wendy’ ever!!!

Besides the fantastic acting, great staging and lovely cast – they are all really,
really good these guys, seriously! I loved the delightful ‘fish of flame’ like Tinkerbell,
which flaps up in the air eerily throughout the play (which I thought was absolutely
fantastic! I was so dreading the Disney version of Tink which is… well… ya know
a bit Panto!)

For me, the icing on this delicious cake was the fact that they pay homage
to the roots of J.M. Barrie, who was of course, Scottish, delivering a perfectly
proportioned dose of Scottish heritage into the play, which sits rather well with
the story of Peter Pan. Even captain hook wears a sexy kilt at one point and all!
but they were tasteful enough to make it an understated, plain black kilt, not
a tartan one. Black kilt? Hmmm…that reminds me of something… Ahem!
Back to Peter Pan!

I loved the subtle yet powerful declaration that they seem to make in a
somewhat unspoken way which is both, enchanting and heart-achingly
beautiful and I am sure that J.M.Barry himself would have also approved
of this version of his work and clapped as hard as I did in the end.

It was such a delightful play and I much more preferred it to the English/
American versions of the story – sorry folks – but the Scottish characters
were just much more fetching, tougher, harder, Arrrrrrrrrr!

Here is a lovely video of J.M.Barrie’s Peter Pan (the Movie):

And let me just say how much of a superb writer J.M.Barrie was,
here is a wiki excerpt of him, in case that you are not that familiar
with the author:

‘Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, OM (9 May 1860 – 19 June 1937)
was a Scottish author and dramatist, best remembered today as the creator
of Peter Pan. The child of a family of small-town weavers, he was educated in
Scotland. He moved to London, where he developed a career as a novelist and
playwright. There he met the Llewelyn Davies boys who inspired him in writing
about a baby boy who has magical adventures in Kensington Gardens (included
in The Little White Bird), then to write Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow
Up, a “fairy play” about this ageless boy and an ordinary girl named Wendy who
have adventures in the fantasy setting of Neverland.’

And here is a lovely little slice of this wonderful play, still on at the
Barbican until today. Seriously, if you love J.M.Barry, “fairy tales”,
Scottish culture or simply are up for seeing some dead cute and very
talented young actors, go see it, truly, it is magical:

“This is no children’s show; not that Barrie ever meant it to be.” – Says Robert
Dawson Scott and that’s exactly what I thought.

“It is not just about fairies and magic dust and fighting off bad pirates,
it’s something a lot deeper and a lot darker” - Kevin Guthrie (Peter Pan)

“The bridge is a connector…” – David Greig, Adaptation, Peter Pan

“The hero of this story is Wendy, Peter Pan is what Wendy has to deal with.
She is both, attracted to him and also… he is dangerous for her.”

“Is the story of her, meeting this incredible person, whom she shares a fantastic
experience with… but having to make the desition saying: I love you, but I love
life, and so… I am going to return to my family… and to where I belong… really.”
- Kirsty Mackay (Wendy)

Wendy: [crying] I’ve grown up Peter… I couldn’t help it.

“I find that final scene between Peter and Wendy heartbreaking,
when he comes back, and, because he’s got no concept of time,
nothing has consequense for him, he can’t feel anything, he thinks
he was there yesterday or two seconds ago. And Wendy has now
grown up, become a woman, and has a family of her own, and I find
that… tragic!” – John Tiffany, Director, Peter Pan.

“It’s an adventure story, of people going on an adventure, as a kid
you dream of going on adventures, but ultimately, I think, it is a
love story” – Kirsty Mackay (Wendy)

Don’t miss this beautiful video here, which explains more about
the making of this version of the play. [Click here to watch it, sorry can't embed]

It really got me into wanting to find out everything about J.M.Barrie and want to
read all of his books, I loved his Peter Pan so much. So, forget Disney! Go to the
Library and get the original copy of Peter Pan and you will know what I mean!
That’s exactly where I am heading right now and I’ll try to get his biography as
well and read as much J.M. Barrie as I can.

When an audience member feels compelled to know more about the author of the
play, you know that the play -which was aiming to pay homage to the greatness
of his work- has suceeded. And for me, the Scottish National Theatre really have
with their lovely version of Peter Pan.

Now here are some lovely quotes from J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan:

“To love would be an awfully big adventure.”

“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.”

“The reason birds can fly and we can’t is simply because they have perfect
faith, for to have faith is to have wings.”

“Dreams do come true, if only we wish hard enough. You can have anything
in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it.”

“Wendy,’ Peter Pan continued in a voice that no woman has ever yet been
able to resist, ‘Wendy, one girl is more use than twenty boys.”

“If you have it [love], you don’t need to have anything else, and if you don’t
have it, it doesn’t matter much what else you have.”

“You know that place between sleeping and awake, that place where
you can still remember dreaming? That’s where I’ll always think of you.”

“Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away
means forgetting.”

“Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight: always try to be a little kinder
than is necessary?”

- J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan.

There is always so much more to read, if you are able to read
between the lines…

Love
Nona

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Photo by Saul

Hey boys and girls! a couple of weeks ago,  I went to see the faaaaaaabulous
Gabby Young from Gabby Young And Other Animals remember? [click click click
here if you missed our interview with her] Yup, the gorgeous red head songstress
and most fashionable showgirl in the world, who is on the picture above (and below!)

I love Gabby! Not only is she beautiful, stylish and talented but also she is the
sweetest girl in the world! She is such a doll!!!

The venue was faaaantastic too! I love The Jazz Cafe in Camden:

I was there with my good friend Lloyd Ellis from Moondog Loves You
and Hunga Munga.  Here is Lloyd and his happiness machine:

I love Moondog Loves You and I got my very own MoonDog Loves you badge,
little piece of love AND some bling too! A heart shaped bracelet, hand-made,
awww! Lloyd is such a charmer! And he is the best dancer in the world too!
We had a ball dancing to all those 80’s tunes after Gabby’s gig at the Jazz Cafe
 it was great fun! Lloyd and I share not only a deep love for Books and the Tate
Modern but also a deep love for all things art/music/vintage/fashion!

Check out Lloyd’s amazing illustration over at Moondog Loves You and
check out the Hunga Munga gang too, such a lovely crowd!

The lovely Vicky from Hunga Munga was there too with her amazing stall
and all the gorgeous things which she makes,  all BY HAND!  The most charming
and beautiful Gabby inspired pieces, which I helped model at the stall. Yay!

The fabulous Gabby joined us too and was there signing albums for her fans
who left Lloyd and Vicky, completely out of stock on cds that night! [Click
here if you want to get one too! It is such a great album!]

Everyone went crazy buying an album after the gig and who wouldn’t really,
after listening to the amazing voice that Gabby has…

… and the fantastic music of her super-fashionable fully fledged band! I love
these guys! They were all so cool and looked so cute wearing fancy hats and
fashion forward eye make up!

Here is a little bit of what they sound like:

And what was I wearing? A-ha! I knew that you’d ask! Now, I am
a writer not a model, so you won’t find me posing in my outfits here,
sorry!

But anyways, to give you a pretty cool idea of what I was wearing
- this is a fashion blog too after all - and I DO LOOOOOVE FASHION  
just as much as you do, not YOU but ye, you! Here is what little
‘Nona-Hontas’ (that’s my trademark Tate Modern nickname, yes I am
an ex-Tate child too) was wearing that night:

My OH-SO-FAAAAABULOUS  Utah vintage tee that I bought OBVIOUSLY
from SMV Vintage and it seriously is, one of my most beloved items in
my wardrobe!

I love it so much!  and even more so because once it was Suzanne’s too,
so it has a REALLY GOOD VIBE and just like everyone loves
Suzanne, everyone loves my Utah tee: (and that’s me included)

Seriously, whenever I wear it, I have to make sure that I am in the mood
to stop and talk to people ’cause  they go: ” Excuse me, Sorry, I really like
your top, where’s it from?” and I am like: “Here darling, let me
give you a card“…

I loved Lloyd’s compliment on it: “You know, I really like this but I am
not going to look into his eyes, ’cause that would be rude no?” 

I also wore these heels which were a bargain and so cool from good
old PRIMARK -I know, I wear fur and unethical fashion but HEY!
THAT’S ME!

I teamed my Utah vintage tee and Primark heels with my favourite black skirt,
which isn’t quite like the one that the SMV model is wearing on the pic above.
Mine is a really high waisted, longer lenght, tube shaped, vintage cut skirt, which
I found a while ago now, whilst  looking for some, errr, more “boring clothes” to
wear to the office in a “very serious and posh corporate environment”. My skirt
is from NEXT (!?) I know!!! and seriously, the cut is amazing, super hight waisted,
very fitted, so it hugs your curves rather nicely plain black, made from a really
nice fabric and with beautiful lining and the most luuurvely pleating detail at the
back, so as to allow for walking comfortably, without walking like a Japanese Geisha
wrapped up really tight in a kimono… kinda walk… y’ know what I mean…?
- Seriously, NEXT does great high waisted tube skirts, so good, that I remember
I bought two! One for “work” and one “to play in” and they are fab cause you can
dress them up or down… or sideways!

And oh! talking about vintage AND kimonos, that reminds me, Kimonos
are kind of in…!!! The lovely Katie Antoniu from the London Plinth, Run Riot
and The Guardian:

… sent me a link to this line designed by the lovely Nicola Woods called Beautiful Soul
which has made a name for itself by its unique use of vintage Japanese Kimonos!

Check out their website [here] for more info. You liiiike?

I like them on other people, not so much on myself, although I wouldn’t mind a whole
vintage kimono itself to walk round the house in… Mmmm…. like the gorgeous one that
Gabby wears here in this video:

That’s my backgarden too you know?!  Love Hampstead Heath and Greenwich Park…
Rings a bell?  Hampstead Heath? no? Blackheath? Greenwich Park? Oui? Non?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!

Oh! and don’t miss my post today for the Blog at modelmanagement.com as it features
the best of the oh-so-very-posh Chelsea Flower Show, featuring gardening, flowers and
errrrr Gnomes…. Oh! and Fashion of course! Chelsea Manolos anyone?!?

[Click here and this will take you riiiiiiiiiight there!]

Right  then, I shall leave you with the gorgeous Gabby again, singing us all this lovely
new song which I love:

Links:
http://www.spanishmossvintage.com/
http://pigtailsrock.blogspot.com/2009/05/lifestyles-spanish-moss-vintage.html
http://www.everythingstyle.com/blog/2010/5/18/wwwspanishmossvintagecom.html
http://www.gabbyyoungandotheranimals.com/
http://gabbyyoungstyle.blogspot.com/
http://londonplinth.blogspot.com/
http://www.beautiful-soul.co.uk/
http://blog.modelmanagement.com/author/murquidi/
http://www.myspace.com/hungamunga
http://www.moondoglovesyou.com/

xoxox
Nonita

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Conrad M via modelmanagement.com

All I knew about modelling before discovering modelmanagement.com was that
models were this stick thin, beautiful creatures that you are best not standing
next to… I know, rather shallow! But after constant exposure to fashion and to
all the stories of models and beautiful photoshoots that I have seen live, my
perception of what models truly are and how much work they actually DO has
totally changed! It’s incredible! I have learnt to appreciate and have a great deal
of respect for this fantastic profession.

Models – just like fashion really – have had to deal with the stigma of being
labelled all sorts of horrible things, from stupid, anorexic, drug addict, rag dolls
to talentless, uneducated, bitchy people who rely on their looks to get by and
that is so totally un-true!

Anja R via modelmanagement.com

There are soooo many skills and qualities that you must have to be a model
that beauty is just a tiny part of it.

If you think about it, models have to: go to castings, be patient, flexible,
perseverant, have people skills, tons of common sense, be team workers,
not have a big ego, be smart and grab concepts quick and be able to use
their body as the canvas to be able to translate: a) what the photographer
is telling them to do b) the ‘image’ or ‘look’ that the designer/client has in
mind and go through hours and hours of taking directions, smiling, posing
and being in their best behaviour at all times. No time for bitching, egos,
or non-sense.

Amandine B via modelmanagement.com

It is so fascinating and so awe striking when you get to see a professional shoot
with a professional model being shot by a professional photographer and see them
get STUNNING results in, literally, the click of a button! Remember The September
Issue? This video of The Texture Shoot clearly illustrates what I mean:

That or when you see a truly professional model walking down the catwalk, like
she owns it, be that with or without something covering her face! Like the fab
Erika S does here, pretty amazing hey?

How can they learn to be so expressive, so incredibly malleable, flexible and creative
(with their moves, gestures and poses, which ultimately become their very own
signature look) and on top of it, so professional?!? There is no messing around or being
late either or you are out. Fashion Week ain’t gonna wait for ya, you know?

It really is a fantastic profession to be in if you have the skills and the stamina that
it really takes to be a successful model, as these skills, as you see, go far beyond than
just being pretty, slim and tall.

Inigo G via modelmanagement.com

There are all sorts of models these days too and they all work within the same
parameters. You have plus size models, petite models, alternative models, senior
models and even transgender models and they are all FABULOUS!

This lady is in one of my favourite posts that I have ever written over at modelmanagement.com [click here to read it if you missed it and you are curious...]

And what about the model turned actress phenomenon that we have been seeing
lately? Check out the fabulous Erika S in this short films for Souper Fin, erotic
tableware:

Another example is not one but FOUR models as part of the cast of a Hollywood movie!
How incredible is that? [click here for samples]

And the thing that has actually striked me the most is how incredibly humble and
LOVELY models are. Really! I have met lots of them through working in Fashion and
they are the loveliest and sweetest of people, I swear! So don’t be intimidated by
their beauty and talk to them, you might discover that there’s an angel inside.

Olivier C via modelmanagement.com

Models… not just a pretty face hey?

Paul B via via modelmanagement.com

Here is the story of the lovely Janina, a young German girl who really wants to make it as a model. After joining modelmanagement.com she has started a video diary, where you can follow her steps and see how she goes about making it big in the modelling world.

Janina via modelmanagement.com

You can follow her on Youtube or on the Blog at modelmanagement.com

I think she is brilliant! I am hooked, she is so sweet and she makes me think of
a brunette young version of Claudia Schiffer, no? GO GET THEM GIRL!

If you ever thought about becoming a model, or if you already are one, join modelmanagement.com too! You can still keep your agency but you’ll also enjoy the benefits of the experience and the HUGE international exposure that these guys have. Honestly, not only do they know the industry inside out, but most importantly, they are the LOVELIEST people to work with and they will definitely change your perception of the modelling world forever!

For more info check modelmanagement.com, join us on Facebook [here] and also, bookmark The Blog! I write for these guys as well ya know? and don’t forget to check out the latest model profiles for more EYE CANDY! [right here click click click]

Now, I am not really into muscly boys, but my-oh-my… I have a ‘thing’ for Tamas H
talking about eye candy!!! This is exactly what the doctor said I should have more of…
or did he say 5 a day?

Tamas H via via modelmanagement.com

Links:
http://www.modelmanagement.com/
http://blog.modelmanagement.com/
http://www.facebook.com/modelmgmt
http://twitter.com/modelmgmt
http://www.youtube.com/modelmgmt
xoxo
Nonita

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LISTEN TO: ♪ ♫ Will Miles – Welcome Rains [click here] ♥ ♪ ♫

There will be a rain dance Friday night, weather permitting.

Don’t threaten me with love, baby. Let’s just go walking in the rain…

If you are in London on June 27th, join us at Hoxton Square Bar, where
the fantastic Will Miles will be playing live!

2-4 Hoxton Square
London
N1 6NU

See you there?

XO
Nonita

http://www.myspace.com/willmilesmusic

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Beyonce, Gaga: shift over… Kylie is back!

XO
Nona

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Of all the places in the world where I have been to, there is no other place 
where I feel more at home than at the Royal Opera House and this is rather
peculiar, since I am not an opera singer, a classical musician nor (sadly) a
ballerina – as much as I would love to be one.

As soon as I step out of Covent Garden Tube station, teetering in my favourite
heels towards the beautiful building of the ROH, clad in my favourite dress,
I can’t help but feel an overwhelming amount of joy and sweet anticipation
for what is to come. I can only describe the feeling of going to the ballet, as the
sweet relief that a fish out of water must feel, when it gets thrown back inside
its pond again, after having been out of it for a while…

After collecting my ticket and ignoring the cloakroom – it gets rather cold
inside so I always prefer to keep my coat with me – I am oh so eager for the
incredibly beautiful red curtains to swing open, as my little eyes consume
every inch of the beauty of this magnificent building and of the theatre itself.

This time though, thanks to ‘Mr el tube’ playing its tricks on my journey,
I was rather late (arrived 10 minutes after the performance had started)
and unlike turning up late for work, where you might get away with a
“evening everyone, oh shit am I late?” or being late to the cinema, were
you can just quietly sneak in… if you are late for the Royal Opera House,
you are not allowed into the theatre until the first interval comes, so as to
not disturb the show. SO YOU LEANR TO BE EARLY! I love that!

It was not so bad as I though though (being my first time EVER to be late
for the ballet, I was oh so gutted). I was swiftly and gently scorted to take
a seat at what I call ‘the naughty seats’, which is one of the lushest rooms
in the building with the most beautiful paintings on the wall, where they
gather seats in front of a big plasma screen, where all the late comers (as
in the naughty people) get to seat and watch the show until the first interval
comes.

It was such a lovely room and the view was so perfect from the screen that
I was like ‘oh! really? already?’ when we had to move over to the real thing.

Not before enjoying a lovely glass of champagne at the Perrier-Jouët
Champagne Bar, where everyone races towards during the two intervals.

The show that I went to see was Cinderella (I know!) and it doesn’t just
end there it was Cinderella the Frederick Ashton version and the music
was no other than Prokofiev. DIE!

“Sir Frederick Ashton created Cinderella for The Royal Ballet in 1948.
It was his first full-length ballet and the first grand-scale ballet ever
created in England.

In Cinderella, Ashton pays homage to the heights of French and Russian
classical choreography, but also mixes in elements of popular English
forms, from pantomime to music hall.

The two worlds are cleverly interwoven: there is a Waltz of Stars and
Cinderella dances a textbook pas de deux at the Prince’s ball, while the
Ugly Sisters recall pantomime dames.

Originally the sisters were danced, with ample self-caricature, by Ashton
himself and principal dancer Robert Helpmann. Ashton was simpering and
neurotic, Helpmann preening and bossy. Their choreography encompasses
the Charleston, the Highland Fling and parodies of great female ballet dancers”
Royal Opera House

Ashton was born in Ecuador (yes, that’s South America folks) can you believe?
He witnessed a life-changing event when he attended a performance by the
legendary Anna Pavlova in the Municipal Theater in Lima, Peru at the age of 13,
which made him decide that he would become a dancer.

“In 1919 he went to England to attend Dover College and then to study under
the famous Léonide Massine and established a working relationship with the
ballet troupe belonging to Marie Rambert and Ninette de Valois. His aim was
to become a great dancer, but his late introduction to dancing and slight
physique made this a highly difficult ambition to fulfill. However, Rambert
discovered Ashton’s aptitude for choreography and allowed him to choreograph
his first ballet, The Tragedy of Fashion, in 1926, starting a tremendously
successful career as a choreographer.” – Wikipedia

And what a choreographer he was!!! His work transcends his time and is ever
so incredible.

The prima ballerina dancing as Cinderella that night was the lovely American
Ballerina Sarah Lamb.

Sarah is a principal ballet dancer at the Royal Ballet in London and she 
hails originally from Boston, USA:

Although I am a huge fan of the Spanish Tamara Rojo and the Argentinian
Marianela Nunez (both brunette principal dancers of the Royal Ballet),
I was excited to see Sarah for the first time and I couldn’t help but fall for
her delicate grace and charm. My favourite part was when she walks out
of the carriage and down the stairs on her points, with the prince holding
her hand, her tiny little steps were so delicate and so enchanting.

Her performance was so delightful and ever so exquisite that I absolutelly
fell for her come the end.

The hilarious sisters, (errmm both guys) Philip Mosley & Gary Avis were histerical.
Never had I witnessed such clever use of comedy as part of a ballet repertoire. 
This is the magic of the choreography of Ashton, which incorporates the panto notes,
me thinks, but also the fact that the dancers performed it so faultlessly, stealing the
audience with their wit and charm.

…and so did the ever so handsome Prince Charming (Ivan Putrov) who was his
usual amazing self:

But the star of the show was truly the choreography!

Jenny Gilbert says: ‘a glorious exposition of choreographic genius such
as Frederick Ashton’s – and the Royal’s – first full-length ballet. Made in 1948,
this is one of those rare old works that bolsters your faith in narrative dance
as entertainment fit for adults. It may feature fairies and transformations,
a sparkly godmother and pantomime uglies, but underneath the picture-book
tackle it’s plumbed to a deep, dark well of universal longing. Thanks to the
shadowy, largely minor-key tug of Prokofiev’s score, thanks also to Ashton’s
acutely musical responses, it becomes a story about proper grown-up wishing
and wanting, wishing and wanting so hard and so often that the longed-for thing
comes to pass. It’s a story about a truly radical makeover, in fact.’

And I couldn’t agree more. For me it was the first time EVER when my eyes
were taken away from the pretty tutus to become totally fixated on the
narrative of the movements, so cleverly put together by Ashton and so
wonderfully executed by the cast.

The Choreography was incredibly magical, and powerful. It was almost as if
an otherworldly presence was there all the time, controlling the bodies of all
the dancers, so gracefully and so subtly, yet so profoundly and marvelling the
unaware audience who watched in owe.

The coreography seemed to be able to tell us a wonderful story of two sides,
which you could continue to unravel, if you listened and watched carefully
and read between the lines, it was totally amazing!

My mind was blown away by Ashton, it completely changed my perception of
choreography forever and he openned my mind completely to the thought that,
there is always a way to reach for your dreams and become greater than them.

Ashton may have not been the best Principal Dancer that he dreamt of being,
but in turn, he placed his passion on choreography coming to totally control
the other dancers whom, according to the experts, where phisically better built
than him to be succesful dancers and that is completely admirable of him. He
could have just thrown the towel and looked away altogether. 

His work inspired me so much, because, as you may or may not know, I too
am a frustrated ballerina, whose ankles got in the way as a Cuban Ballet instructor
told my mum that I would never be a ballerina with them. Yup, she was blunt,
she broke my dream and saved my mum a stash of cash on all of those ballet
lessons that we were both dreaming that I would go on, but hey! the woman
was probably right… So, after seeing Ashton’s magnificence, I aim to be a better
writer and make it my craft to tiptoe with my words, in the same graceful and
perfect way that I would have done, had I had the perfect physique to be one
of the world’s greatest ballerinas.

Another thing that blew my mind was the actual power that choreography has
for storytelling and how much really can be said with just movements. 
The flawless beauty with which Ashton strings along all the invisible words that
those movements emit and the way he stitched them seamlessly to the perfection
of Prokofiev’s tunes, was just the closest thing to heaven that I have ever experienced
in my life.

My face, ha! I wish that I could actually had seen my very own face whilst I was
sitting there. I haven’t felt like that ever in my life, it was so incredibly beautiful.
Best birthday present to self ever! I couldn’t help but walk out feeling blessed and
ever so lucky to have had the amazing opportunity to witness such magic!

Yes, that was my present to myself this year, well that… and a couple
glasses of champagne at the bar a girl is allowed to celebrate right?

I can’t even remember what my present to self was last year, probably
shoes, or a pretty dress, or some spanking underwear but I realized
overtime that, although clothes are nice and they make you feel lovely,
they cannot compare with experiences, those can make you feel incredibly
lovely too, and the bonus is that you get to take those with you to your
grave and beyond when you die, unlike pretty clothes and shoes, which
stay here… waiting for others to love them just as much as you did.

They don’t have the trailer of the show up yet, but here’s a video of another
stunning choreographic piece by Ashton in ‘The Tales of Beatrix Potter’:

…and here is a tiny little slice of the show performed by the lovely Alina Cojocaru
as Ashton’s Cinderella:

Isn’t it beautiful?

Love,
xoxo
Nonita

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© Image courtesy of FACE HUNTER

Isn’t that some fabulous layering? (above) I love, love, love!

Here are some more of my latest favourite looks by the fabulous Yvan Rodic from
FACE HUNTER! I can’t wait for the interview that we are putting together over at
Modelmanagement.com [ click here if you missed it! ]

Oh hello there! I really, REALLY like this guy’s Italian mafia style:

© Image courtesy of FACE HUNTER

I love this guy soooooooo much!!! PS- that belt was my fave piece from an
editorial I saw once at NAP.

© Image courtesy of FACE HUNTER

This is my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE look, it’s soooo cool, tracksuit pants + fur ?!?
HELL YEAH! (not crazy about the heels but they go… no?) The watch… I don’t
wear watches but I wouldn’t mind that one:

© Image courtesy of FACE HUNTER

LOVE this chap:

© Image courtesy of FACE HUNTER

ABSOLUTE COOL DUDE! (Blame King Charles, I am obsessed with stylish men with beards
lately, I can’t get enough of King Charles)

© Image courtesy of FACE HUNTER

I love the red pants here:

© Image courtesy of FACE HUNTER

And those FABULOUS shoes!!!

© Image courtesy of FACE HUNTER

Cool hey? You gotta give it to Yvan, it isn’t easy to be a style hunter do you know?
You have to:
1) Get up off your ass
2) Venture the streets of the world
3) Look out for stylish people
4) Make contact and interact with them
5) Find a great spot where to shoot them
6) Take a great photo where not only their clothes, but them and the place looks great.

Hats off to the guy, he does a great job!!! He has a fearless personality and he is
fabulously stylish himself too!!! Here is a video of him at VOGUE where you can see
his fabulousness who’s hair is, apparently, ‘Vogue ready’! I really, really like this guy:

So, go on, don’t be shy, send me YOUR question (s) to Yvan Rodic at:

nona@modelmanagement.com

before Monday 10 May for a chance to win a copy of his latest book:
‘FACEHUNTER’. And no, your questions don’t just have to be about fashion,
be creative! You can ask the man ANYTHING! eg: Is he single?

(and PS-if you are not that bothered about winning the book, get in anyways,
win it and give it to me!!! because I am not allowed to play!!! – darn!)

Now here is a little eye candy from me I found this pic of a “zorse” (half-zebra,
half-… well ya know!) and…
I
WANT
ONE
!!!

Isn’t he cute? (yes, it’s a he!)

Love,
Nona

All pictures (apart from the zorse) copyright of Yvan Rodic at Face Hunter.

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XO
Nona

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I am really into Shakespeare these days, totally obsessed with the man,
so it was to much of my surprise and sheer delight to catch a glimpse of
Britain’s Got Talent – don’t judge – and see that someone has combined
two of my favourite things here, Shakespeare and…

…white vintage pleated dresses!

“How pleased are you?”
“Oh ever so pleased!” -”You are doing a grand job” hahahaha!

I am up for Shakespeare and a bit of spanking! After all, I have always wanted a man
who could recite me my favourite Shakespeare sonnet by heart…

I’ll happily swap that for a bit of the ole spanking, after all… The courses of true love never did run smooth non?

I am off to get ready for the ballet tonight! SO EXCITED!!! I shall be reporting on the
show.

Oh, also, come over and check my latest post about TAXIDERMY SHOES!!! over at modelmanagement.com there are some pretty shocking little pieces which I found over there…[Click here and this will take you riiiiiiiiiiiiight there]

Mwahhhh!! Cheerio cheerio old darling!!!

XO
Nonita

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