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, to go.

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

A New Space...

Photographed By Fohnjang Ghebdinga

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

... Around The Body

Photographed By Fohnjang Ghebdinga

And this is by Ara Jo.

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 zone of watching a lot of moving images. And it's got me thinking about iconic fashion moments in film. Thus, I thought I'd share the ones where I've gone, "Damn, I want to dress like her!". There are a couple, so I've been forced to narrow the list down to three timeless outfits. It's in random order of preference, but my focus of attention will be on the last ensemble.

Before I proceed, a private note to Scarlett O'Hara:

Dear Scarlett,

I hope this letter finds you well. Sooner or later it's going to be brought to your attention that I made a compilation of garments that I like in classic movies, without you in it. Just for the record, I know you and I go way back. And you know that I'm a total sucker for costume dramas. But sweetie, you just have too much going on in "Gone With The Wind", making it extremely hard for me to pick out one favourite apparel. I mean, the sheer genius of having a dress made out of your moss green velvet curtains alone, is fodder for an entire thesis. Don't be mad. Let's hook up for a movie night soon! Miss you much.

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's".

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

"Carmen Jones" is George Bizet's romantic opera, adapted to the screen in 1954. The story centers around femme fatale, Carmen Jones (Dorothy Dandridge), who works at a parachute factory at an army base in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Carmen makes her move on the hard to get, and engaged soldier, named Joe, played by Harry Belafonte. Joe eventually falls for her sweet - talking swag, despite her initially telling him upfront "I told you truly, If I love you that's the end of you", and ditches his lovable (but oh so boring) fiancee, before relocating to Chicago with his new vixen. The rest, as they say, is a tragedy.

However, "Carmen Jones" is a flaming hot musical, also starring legendary Pearl Bailey and Dynasty's Deveraux, Diahann Caroll. It's an ode to a bygone glamorous era, where pretty dresses were worn all the time. I especially love the way Carmen's flamenco inspired red skirt is used as a symbol. The warning sign for both matador and bull reading, "beware!".

And speaking of glamour, although they never featured in a movie together, Marilyn Monroe and Dandridge were friends (coincidentally, they also shared the similar middle name, Jean/e). A brief reference to their amity is given in "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" (1999), with Halle Berry in the leading role as Dandridge. This made for television drama, candidly depicts the trials and tribulations of Dandridge life, both on and off screen: Her career defining - moment, and the events leading to her ultimate demise. It's sad how closely it echoes that of Monroe's. And also that of a recent equally beloved's.

But despite their undefined mutual distress, you still look at each and any of these women and go, "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 Hadaf. 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.

❤