Afternoon Delight With The Artist

It's Oscar month!  Every year, Alberto and I try to see all the nominees for Best Picture by Oscar night. And there are alot this year: The Artist, The Descendants, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, The Help, Moneyball, War Horse, and The Tree of Life.

Go see the movie The Artist

During the year we saw Midnight In Paris and The Help, and yesterday we had a little afternoon delight and stole away too see The Artist. Alberto did not understand why anyone would want to see a silent film (filmed in black and white no less), but I convinced him he would not be disappointed. I had been following the buzz about this film, and it did very well at The Golden Globes a couple of weeks ago.

The Artist wins big at the 2012 Golden Globes

As a young person, I worked in an entry level job at The Museum of Modern Art in the Film Department (now called the Film and Media Dept.). It was my first encounter with silent movies. I didn't LOVE them at first. But as time passed and I was educated under the tutelage of curator Mary Corliss (her husband Richard Corliss is now the film critic for Time Magazine),  and the entire Film Dept. staff at MOMA.  As a result the genre became dear to me. It was amazing to have great silent film stars like Lillian Gish and Greta Garbo, who were still alive then, sometimes visit the Film Dept.

The Artist is an incredible combination of today's technology juxtaposed with what was then the incredible technology of the early movie making era of the silent film. It is hardly silent, with the evocative acting, the excellent camera work, the fantastic sets and costumes, and extraordinary music scored expertly for this film.

The Artist is a masterful study in black and white, sure to inspire all you visual vamps. The sets are fabulous and Oscar worthy. The costumes equally so.

Homage is paid to so many familiar cinematic touchstones. You will be reminded of Singing In The Rain, the real life story of Greta Garbo and John Gilbert, Sunset Blvd., any 42nd Street style movie musical, A Star Is Born, and the great Astaire Rogers films of the 1930's. Add to that an adorable terrier that reminds one of all the great Hollywood dogs, especially Asta from the Thin Man series.

Singing In The Rain

Greta Garbo and John Gilbert, great silent film stars and lovers, with director Clarence Brown - Garbo talked, and Gilbert tanked when sound came to the movies

Gloria Swanson, a super star of silent movies, in Sunset Blvd. in 1950

Janet Gaynor in A Star Is Born (the 1937 version)

Ginger Rogers in dark shorts in the movie 42nd Street, and in feathers with Fred Astaire

Asta with his co-stars Myrna Loy and William Powell

Everyone in the theater the afternoon we saw The Artist looked like they were in their 100's, perhaps old enough to have gone to silent movies in their heyday. Alberto and I felt like we were the youngsters in the crowd, even though it was 100 years ago when I worked at MOMA.

So if you are a movie lover, go see The Artist. I think it will win quite a few Oscars. We plan to see The Descendants next. I could pass on the 911 movie (Incredibly Close...). I want to see Hugo because our set designer friend Helen Britten said it is a marvel. We wanted to see Moneyball when it came out, so I hope they put it on the big screen again for Oscar season. War Horse should be interesting, and the tour de force of the genius Terrence Malick, The Tree Of Life, will be a challenge, but I am sure worthwhile.

Do yourself a favor and get out to the movies. See a film on the big screen with a group of people you don't know, who by the end of a good film, become less than strangers by sharing that warm and fuzzy and uplifting feeling that blankets everyone in the audience.

And if you haven't seen the films in the images above, do yourself a favor and find them on DVD, or on Turner Classic Movies, or at an art house showing classic films in your city.

And please do tell us what you think of the movies you see!!!


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Black and White Chanel Interiors

The black and white rooms created by Coco Chanel in the 1920's are amazing. They are a treat for all you lovers of black and white decor.

The entry hall of Chanel's country home - white walls black trim

Actually these are images from the 2010 film, Coco & Igor,  a soft core biopic. It was on cable last week, so I watched it, and there were some great lines: Mrs. Stravinsky (upon seeing Coco's home) “You don’t like color, Mademoiselle Chanel?” To which Coco dryly responds, “As long as it’s black.”

Coco & Igor met (and ultimately bed) right after Coco's lover of nine years Boy Capel died in a tragic car crash. Apparently Chanel was kept by many rich men in her life. However, Boy Capel was, Chanel’s self proclaimed  “love of her life.”  After Capel's death, Chanel’s collections featured what became her signature black. Other designers of the time commented that she was making everyone mourn for her lost love by using black as a main color in her collections. Whatever the reason, Chanel broke barriers and gave new life to the color black.

So here's a round up of all the images I could find from the movie. There are some good ideas to inspire anyone wanting to try out a black and white decor scheme. 

The movie version of Chanel's country house - LOVE the  pair giant spiral topiary

You don’t like color, Mademoiselle Chanel?  Let me see if I have some red Russian rugs to throw around this dump.

Igor says this place is crazier than a set of piano keys - LOVE the black Venetian mirror

Step into my music room and tickle my ivories - Black drapes and hand painted walls are spiffy

Count the patterns - Fabulous rug, border under window, wall painting, and black trim

Let me see if you're wearing black under there

Don't be sad Igor, I'll 'sew you some black under pants - Check out the wall details

All that under pants sewing made me hungry - One of the lovely black and white dresses in the movie

So your wife dares to wear red in my house! Even though she's dying and the two of you and your four kids are living in my house too, I'll still seduce you and teach her a lesson in hospitality she won't soon forget! And everybody keep puffing those cigarettes next to the wife with consumption!

Please show me your bathroom renovation - I hear you got some good ideas from blogs - Mais oui! M.C, Escher has a blog.

Here's the bathroom - Whatever you do don't touch the parrot - it's still pissed that I dyed it black

Want  me to wash you?

Time to go to work in my black and white world

How big can my ash get?

Everybody must wear black and white, and maybe a little beige - That goes for you too humble shop girl!

All dressed up with nowhere to go - Oh Iggy where are you???

Lay Iggy lay, Lay across my big brass bed - LOVE the recurring Greek key motif

Now that's what I'm talking about! The black and white bedding is stunning!

Bitch stole my piano man  - The mix of pattern is extraordinary

Shit! I think I can hear them in the garden shed! LOVE the symmetry of the topiary

Shh...The old ball and chain  has big ears

Coco & Igor design inspiration or soft core biopic  - You decide

The real Igor -who knew he was so hot

The real Coco Chanel - who knew she was such a Vamp!

So what do you think of black and white decor? Do you think it's easy to do because there are only two colors to work with? Do you think it imbues a space with instant sophistication and high design?


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Midnight At Deyrolle In Paris

Midnight In Paris HERE

Have you ever wanted to live in another era, in another time in the past? Do you feel you were born too late? Do you love to wear vintage clothes, watch old movies, listen to golden age music, or decorate your home with antiques and vintage things?

When I was a young girl I was obsessed with time travel and "olden times". I think this came from a love for my grandmother and her home. To me it was a treasure trove of all the things I didn't have in the home I shared with my parents. Everything was mysterious and glam and funny and interesting. And my grandmother was so kooky and indulgent, and she wore bright red lipstick, to which I have been hooked on since I started to wear make-up.

I have had many favorite eras. For some reason Paris and artists always played a part.

Imaginary scene #1: Paris in La Belle Epoque, picture me a courtesan, a model for Toulouse Lautrec. I didn't exactly know what a courtesan was, but I knew Greta Garbo played one called Camille.

Imaginary scene #2: Paris in the 1920's. I was a madcap, an artists model, a glamorous bohemian.

Real scene # 1: New York in the 1970's. I was an art student (and an artists model, working my way through art school) shopping the vintage clothes stores like Bogies and Trash and Vaudeville, slinking around town in bias cut chiffon dresses from the 1930's, and dancing in beaded dresses from the 1920's until they literally fell to pieces on the dance floor. I furnished my apartments with deco before it was deco, and listened to Billie Holiday on old record players.

Real scene #2: New York in the 1980's. I slowly left planet nostalgia as I segued into my rock and roll life. But no matter what era I felt drawn to, as a young person I felt born in the wrong time and maybe even in the wrong place.

I always imagined myself living my old age looking like Colette and living in Paris surrounded by young people at my feet listening to me tell stories of my interesting life.

Real scene #3: Alberto and I have stolen away for some afternoon delight, which means stealing away to a dark movie theater in New Orleans on a hot humid weekday afternoon. The movie: Woody Allen's 41st film Midnight In Paris.

To say I enjoyed this is an understatement. When you know every location, every artist, every writer, every reference, every Zelig like moment, the delight just creeps in everywhere, until you laugh and glow with recognition.

I know you will all love this frolic, this fluff, this mash note to Paris.

Oh yes, one last scene: New Orleans today, and me smiling at the mantra I picked up from Baba Ram Das in the 1970's: Be Here Now. And I am. Joyously.

And here's a little visual round up of one of the locations that made me smile the most. It is Deyrolle. Since the resurgence of taxidermy in current decor, Deyrolle has become known to decorators and bloggers. What a treat to to see a party scene take place in Deyrolle in Midnight In Paris! It was a perfect mix of fantasy, glam, and wit! I wish I could throw a party for all of you there.

Little animals frolic forever at Deyrolle

It was especially nice to see Deyrolle filmed so beautifully, restored after a tragic fire there just a couple of years ago. Deyrolle is such a beloved place in Paris, that a zillionaire and many artists came to its rescue allowing it to be restored in record time. I love that Woody Allen chose this for a location, perhaps obscure to most movie viewers, but not to my fellow visual vamps!

Deyrolle when it burned via

Deyrolle

You can see what a great Parisian house Deyrolle is in

So what is your favorite era in the past that you would like to live in? And did you see Midnight In Paris?

A Question For You Stylists

You know a styling trend has arrived when it trickles down to New Orleans. Lately editors have been asking about styling that messy bed look for home decor stories and photo shoots.

The bohemian messy bed

It really is tricky to making an un-made bed bed look appealing and glamorous.

The modern messy bed

Do you start with the bed made up and then mess it up? Do you spray the sheets with water and crumple them by hand?

The romantic messy bed

Maybe you can get in the bed and kind off kick the covers around to achieve a natural look. You know if you fuss too much it will look stiff and fake, which is pretty funny when you think of it.



What does the messy bed say to the reader? Does it say something romantic?

The implied lifestyle messy bed

Does a messy bed imply a languid relaxed lifestyle that most of us crave?

All in the mix messy bed

Is there a devil-may-care off-hand attitude somewhere there in all the beautiful bed linens?

The boudoir messy bed

How would you style the messy bed look? Add some clothing? I think shots with a fancy pair of designer shoes and a Kelly bag/designer purse in it are so overused.

The Selby messy bed - Kate & Andy Spade at home

The Selby is a master of the messy look. He usually puts people in the messy beds.

The Selby - the reality of hip messy bed

There's kind of a swagger to it all. Some people hate it as being hipster and smug. Some people love it as being fresh and exciting, the antidote to all those perfectly made beds that have been in shelter magazines for years.

The Selby anti shelter magazine messy bed

Do photos of messy beds give us a voyeuristic sneak peek at the reality of the private life taking place in the home photographed?

The Selby

Would you allow your bed to photographed unmade? You've waited a long time to get a photo shoot of your project.

The Selby makes the stylist jump on the bed to get the perfect messy bed look

You've purchased new linens, and ironed them, You've fluffed and primped the pillows for hours to get just the perfect look, and the editor walks in and tells the stylist to mess it up. Could you handle it?


Is it easier on a fashion shoot then a home decor shoot? After all fashion editorial has been way ahead of the shelter magazines in presenting avant garde editorials.

Fashion model messy bed

I started looking at images of messy beds for inspiration. I love the ones with movie stars in messy beds.

Sophia Lauren and Carlo Ponti in their messy bed

Some of them are staged for movies, and publicity shots, and for magazine stories.

Sophia Loren alone in a messy bed
Love the whole styling job of this room

Since the movie stars are actors, they really know how to be comfortable in a messy bed. They know how to work it.

Marilyn - the master works the messy bed

No movie stars here at my photo shoot. Just an uptight home owner with a hurt puzzled look as I tear into her beautifully made up bed.

Marilyn

How do I explain that this is glamorous and au courant?

Catherine Deneuve - French style messy bed
The props inspire me!

Stylists! Tell me your tricks and secrets of how to make the messy bed fabulous!

Brigitte Bardot - French style messy bed 2

I practice every morning, by not making my bed. Alberto and I work all night to get just the right effect!

Audrey Hepburn - messy bed excellence
A sleep mask and a cat are so much better than a Kelly bag

Don't forget to watch stylist and blogger and Design Star winner Emily Henderson's new show Secrets From A Stylist which premiers on HGTV on this Saturday February 26, 9 PM Eastern, 8 PM Central. Maybe she'll show us the secrets of styling the messy bed!

Emily Henderson secretly styles the messy bed