Inspiration

Every outfit Cher Horowitz wears in Clueless. Now, where did I put my plaid skirt and knee high socks?

A Lifetime of Obsession

When I was very young, about five maybe, I saw the Wizard Of Oz for the first time. And while I was not only entranced by Oz itself, and the way Dorothy's life changed from black and white to colour, I was also drawn to The Ruby Slippers. For my birthday that year, my grandmother gave me a pair of (gold) glittering shoes that I adored and wore and wore until all the glitter fell off. 

Dorothy was so many years ahead of current trends - she paired heels and ankle socks together years ago.

Over the years, I've lusted after many a pair of red heels, but never bought a pair. I gear up to get them, gather my funds, try them on several times, to make sure that they are the perfect fit, but I never commit.I always make some excuse at the last minute and back out.

I think now though, I may have found my perfect pair. Although I have yet to try them on, these (supposedly "burgundy") heels from Office.

They are suede (my favourite fabric for shoes), with a good, solid, but not-ridiculously-high heel. They don't look as harsh as some other red shoes do and they are not as tough as some of the shoes of previous seasons. I could see myself wearing them with a pair chinos or tailored trousers. 

The shoes are a good red - not too bright, but not too purple either - the suede makes the colour look classy, which I don't think it would work if the shoes was patent, or matte leather (I am rather picky about my reds as I had to wear a post-box-red jumper every day for seven years at primary school).

I think I may have to make the investment.

Flo x

Film Review: Inception

One of my closest and dearest friends is really into her films, and a few months ago she lent me her copy of the July issue of Empire magazine, which contained a huge feature on Inception, the new film by Christopher Nolan, who directed, amongst other things, The Dark Knight. After seeing a few trailers/teasers, most sent to me by my film-enthusiast friend, and the realisation that the film starred two of my favourite actors, Tom Hardy (Heathcliff in the ITV version of Wuthering Heights) and Joseoh-Gordon Levitt (from 500 Days Of Summer), as well as my favourite girl-crush Ellen Page (Juno), I headed along to the cinema today, more than a little bit excited.

I'm terrible in the cinema - I'm the person you really don't want to sit by because I talk and crack jokes all the way through whatever film I'm watching. Not Inception though. Apart from asking if an actor was who I thought he was, I didn't say anything to the friend I was with - this film had me so captured, so absorbed, that I didn't notice two hours passing until I realised I desperately needed the toilet. 

The film is excellent; it draws the viewer in and makes them want to keep watching. There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot, so attention needs to kept on the screen at all times. The end, while not a cliffhanger, leaves questions in the viewers minder, which meant that my friend and I were outside the cinema in the rain, talking about Inception for a good 20 minutes. 

I don't want to give away the plot of the film, and it's quite hard to say to much about the film without spoiling it, so watch the trailer below to get an idea of what the film is about.  

The only thing that disappointed me about Inception was the lack of development in the relationship between Ellen Page's and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's characters. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of that. But maybe that's just me, and Leonardo Dicaprio's relationship with his wife is the main focus of the film.

The acting is brilliant - Ellen Page steals every scene she is and I was very impressed by Leonardo Dicaprio's performance (he's still got it!). But stop reading this now. And go and see the film. 

Flo x

Film Review: Eclipse

I have something embarrassing to admit - when I was about 14, I was really into the Twilight books. I remember the excitement of the New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn books coming out, and reading them again and again. And then I grew up. I started reading better, more realistic books and promptly forgot about Twilgiht. While rearranging my room last week, I found my Twilight books, stuffed at the back of my bookshelves, so I opened Eclipse and started reading (anything to avoid the task at hand). I stopped again after three pages. I couldn't bear the drivel and the whining and the ridiculousness of the books. Nevertheless, last night, some friends and I headed out to the cinema to see Eclipse. 

I'm sure everyone knows the plot by now - Bella has to choose between her vampire boyfriend Edward and her werewolf best friend Jacob, but she can't, yadda yadda yadda. Oh, and some vampires are trying to kill her. 

My friends and I found the film hilarious, but I don't think that was what director David Slade was going for. The acting was pretty ridiculous and overdone - it was very funny to watch Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner look as though they were about to kiss, when they were meant to be spoiling for a fight. 

Most of the comic moments mostly come from Taylor Lautner, who plays Jacob the werewolf, including the line "I kissed Bella....and she broke her hand....punching my face...". And when Riley, another vampire came out of the water, supposedly looking all evil, my friend and I turned to each other at exactly the same time and shrieked "He looks like Voldemort!". Luckily the only people who heard us were our siblings, who came with us. 

(This is the closest image I could find - it's not the right scene, but you get the idea).

For a movie with a budget as big as the one that Eclipse has, you would have think they could have pushed some more money to the costume department. The Cullens (vampire family), who are meant to have oodles of money, all wear rather nasty looking clothes (nice colour co-ordination though)

Also, Bella's engagement ring? Edward has money, but sweet guy that he is, he just nipped down to his local Claire's Accessories and got her this:

BARF. It someone proposed to me with this, I wouldn't say yes. 

What really got to me about this film, in the same way as the book did, is the backward steps Bella seems to take. She chooses the vampire in the end (surely you all knew that, right?), who is overprotective to the point of abusiveness, and who essentially forces her into marriage (or at least an engagement) before he will even think about having sex with her. It is as though feminism never happened - she has to change her species to be  with him. 

I have to say, the Eclipse is better than the other two films, but it's not great - it's entertaining, and keeps you absorbed, but the acting leaves a lot to be desired - I was rather impressed by the special effects though. My 12-year-old sister loved it "sooooo much", but I would be careful about her review, she's Team Edward. 

Flo x