Captured Effortlessly

Photographed By Fohnjang Ghebdinga

By Tata-Naka.

That's The Way It Was

Photographed By Fohnjang Ghebdinga

There's a lot going on in the fashion sphere at the moment. When I say a lot, I mean that distinctively printed fabrics are everywhere to be seen. There's also some interesting decorative stuff happening to the shoes.

But I could never pull this much off all at once (in an editorial dream, yes/in real life, no). Not because I don't want to be draped in all kinds of festive pieces. More because; too much colour and other grooving things on me, at the same time, put me in the category of Bozo The Clown. Immediately. I'm not kidding when I say this. That's why I can never paint my lips completely red. I just can't pull it off.

After all that's said and done, I want an African - inspired pleated skirt like this one. Preferably with a checkered floor that comes with.

... Around The Body

Photographed By Fohnjang Ghebdinga

And this is by Ara Jo.

A New Space...

Photographed By Fohnjang Ghebdinga

Emerging Korean designers at London Fashion week. This is by Juhee Han.

Hybrid Theory

Photographed By Fohnjang Ghebdinga

I'm trying to figure this bag out. It's a cross between an attaché case, and the bags carried by security guards, right? No? Are they one and the same thing? Or is the latter usually more metal-ly?

Despite the pondering and wondering, I do like it [briefcases always give off a vibe that you have some really important place to attend] - [I'm using square brackets because they give off a vibe that you're writing something really important], especially the details in gold on every angle. Sophie Hulme, hit the nail right on the head with this one. With her miniature dinosaur accessories, too.

Cretaceous

Photographed By Fohnjang Ghebdinga

Bridesmaids

Illustration By Fohnjang Ghebdinga

Have you seen it? It's a riot!

However, as much as I found "Bridesmaids" extremly entertaining {and a relief from the harsh realities of other [good] movies I've watched recently such as, "We Need To Talk About Kevin" and "Tyrannosaur"}, it's one of those films, I really hope they don't make a sequal to. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see ⟨sorry for interjecting a seperate text here. I just wanted to try these diamond shape brackets out. Did you notice the squiggly ones up there? I think they're pretty⟩ the whole cast reunited again. But, it should preferably be in a brand new story penned down by Kristen Wiig.

Anyway,I'll stop pretending for a second that I'm a film critic, and let you read my dear sir Jonathan's analysis. I'll talk about the official movie poster instead.

Have you seen it? It's brilliant!

Although, I was a bit disappointed that displayed bridal, and bridemaids gowns, isn't what they end up wearing at the wedding {sorry for not inserting a "spoiler alert"} in the end. I found it cool how the the outfits speaks to their individual personalities. Their poses, too. The attitude! You'll have a laugh - out - loud blast, superimposing your girlfriends' countenances onto the faceless characters of Fohnny Fohn Fohn's illustration ｢I promise｣.

Dorothy Dandridge

Photo Courtesy Of Gwladys Sordelet

Lately, as you know, I’ve been in a phase of watching a great deal of moving images. It’s set me thinking about iconic fashion moments in film, the ones that make you pause and think, “Damn, I want to dress like her.” There are several, but I’ve narrowed it down to three timeless looks. The order is arbitrary, though I admit my attention lingers on the last.

Before I begin, a private note to Scarlett O’Hara.

Dear Scarlett,

I hope this letter finds you well. At some point it may reach you that I’ve put together a list of favourite garments from classic films without including you. For the record, I know we go way back, and you know how much I adore a good costume drama. But darling, you simply have too much going on in "Gone with the Wind" for me to choose just one look. The brilliance of that moss green velvet curtain dress alone could sustain an entire thesis. Don’t be cross. Let’s plan a movie night soon.

Miss you.

Yours truly,

/Ellinor

The list:

I. The white halter dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in "The Seven Year Itch".

II. The black GIVENCHY cocktail dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany & Co."

III. The red skirt paired with a black top worn by Dorothy Dandridge in "Carmen Jones".

"Carmen Jones" is an adaptation of Georges Bizet’s opera, brought to the screen in 1954. It follows Carmen Jones, played by Dorothy Dandridge, a worker in a parachute factory on a military base in North Carolina. She sets her sights on Joe, an engaged soldier played by Harry Belafonte. Despite her warning, “If I love you, that’s the end of you,” he falls for her and leaves his fiancée before following her to Chicago.

What follows is a tragedy.

The film also features Pearl Bailey and Diahann Carroll, and carries a sense of effortless glamour, where elegance feels constant rather than occasional. What draws me most is Carmen’s red skirt, flamenco inspired and impossible to ignore. It feels like a signal, something bold and unmistakable.

Although they never appeared on screen together, Marilyn Monroe and Dorothy Dandridge were friends, even sharing similar middle names of Jean, Jeane. Their connection is briefly referenced in "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," where Halle Berry portrays Dandridge. The film traces her life and career, along with its difficulties and turning points. There are echoes there that feel familiar.

And still, you look at each of these women and think, Damn, I want to be like her.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Illustration By Fohnjang Ghebdinga

If there's anybody that I know on this planet that could pull this hairstyle, or entire look off, better than Rooney Mara, then it's the one channeling her inner rude boy, in the Clockwork post below, my friend, Khojesta. She's one of those interesting people who you see where, today her hair is black, then tomorrow, half of it is blue! Also, and I'm sidetracking, is the prerequisite for playing Lisbeth Salander's character, that you have to have, 2 x O, in your name in a row? Or is it purely coincidental that the actor, who played the first Lisbeth Salander, name is Noomi Rapace?

"The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo", is the first installment of the trilogy, "Millennium Series" written by Swedish journalist and author, Stieg Larsson. The original title of the book (before it got lost in translation) is "Men Who Hate Women", or "Män Som Hatar Kvinnor" in Swedish. There have been two film adaptions so far. The first bearing the original title, starring NOOmi Rapace, and the recent version with ROOney Mara, in the lead role.  However, if you intend on watching either of the movies in France - or reading the book, then pay attention to their respective release years of 2009 and 2011, as both versions are called, "Les Hommes Qui N'aimaient Pas Les Femmes" - "Men Who Didn't Love Women". Fascinating (that the French use the words "love and "like" interchangeably, and that they left out the word "hate"): Judging from the multiple titles alone. What else could be more intriguing? 

With all that said, I have a confession to make; I haven't read the book, or seen any of the movies yet. Shame on me! But, I will, and soon. In the meantime, venture over to Fohnhouse, and read Jonathan's review of the film.

 

 P.S. The signs are everywhere. Tattoo = O²!

An Early Spring

Photographed By Ellinor Forje

I know I have some things to say about January, but really, February is a total drag. Jeez. I'm still upset with Winter for having chased Summer away. How's the weather where you are (please tell me "bad", misery loves company)? Nice? In that case, you need to break me off a little somethin' of what you've got going on over there, because I'm freezing half to death. Arrgh.

The only part I like about this month is the fact that you have an excuse to stay indoors and drink hot chocolate all the time. It's also given me to time to revisit my DVDs, CD collection and other stuff to that degree. That dear friends, is partly the raison d'être for my recent movie reviews. And February ain't over yet (it's a leap year, people), so there's gonna be a lot more where that came from!

Inbetween ranting on and on and on about the films that I like, I figured that I'd do a little giveaway to gear everyone up for March. It's a scarf, or schal, if you allow me to be fancy, by Weekday, that goes in the same shades of the apparel that you see up there ↑.To enter is simple. Just name the song that you most relate with Spring, and state why it's your tune. Then send the answers to info@madifonbyfashion.com before, or on February 29, 2012.

FAQ

Question: Am I still eligible to enter the contest if I live in Hawaii, or in any other part of the world where it's warm, as you seem to (dare I say, "be jealous"?) harbour some resentment towards people living in tropical climates right now?

Answer: Jealous? Me? Nooooo.

❤