Style Inspiration: Wattstax

This is one of those rare films, like Mystery Train and portions of Hustle & Flow, that makes me think "DAMN my city is badass!". And yes, even though Wattstax was not made in Memphis, the feel of it is pervasive in the concert scenes...it's Watts + Stax, after all. And speaking of badass, these documentary has it in spades, particularly regarding style.

Is there anything more badass than a giant, glorious Afro? I don't think so. If I could grow one, I would. They're sadly so rare nowadays, though when I do see one I am stunned by how amazing it looks. Fortunately this movie is like an Afro treasury. It doesn't stop there though, friends: there are wonderful polka dot hot pants, a lot of ass-shaking, huge hats, and some mind-blowing ultra '70s black dandies/modern day Beau Brummel's(has anyone researched that comparison? They should).

And I'm only talking about the spectators and talking heads. The actual musicians look even better, with Rufus Thomas's "Ain't I clean?" magical pink short-suit with patent white boots(wrap your head around that), Issac Hayes looking like a shiny bronze soul statue, and the lead singer of the Bar-Kays sporting what may be the weirdest haircut I have ever seen- a relaxed bowl cut(see below). The movie must be seen to be believed. It might even make you cry that you can't dance.(Wait, that's probably just me).


If this song doesn't slay you just a little then YOU DON'T HAVE A SOUL.

1966

Top- mark.
Jeans- Forever 21
Wedges- Delia's
music- The Sonics- "He's Waiting"

Still not quite sure how to pose for this, hanging my head seems to be a good option. This outfit reminds me of my style a few years ago, around 2006-07, when I'd say my main stylistic goal was to look like the girlfriend of a member of the Sonics would look.(CHECK OUT AWESOME MOHAIR SWEATER BELOW) When I thought about clothes I thought "1966", and very rarely varied from it. I think my haircut(blunt bangs gotten after seeing "The Notorious Bettie Page" in the movie theater on my 19th birthday) had a lot to do with this as well. Now I'm not quite sure what my look is, but I still think of 1966 as my ultimate reference point, and I refuse to give up the heavy liquid liner. Not sure where this post is going...but there was a snowstorm last night and I don't have to work today! (Guess how well those shoes did me when I stepped out of the movie theater last night into 3 inches of snow). Judging from the sluggishness of my mind right now, I'd say maybe 9 hours of sleep actually isn't good for me.


Also, I saw The Social Network last night...really, critics, really? This is "the Citizen Kane for the millenial set"? You got your panties in a wad over this? It was a very enjoyable movie, well acted, I sort of have a crush on Jesse Eisenberg?(why lord why?!?), the clothing was dead on(contemporary costuming doesn't get enough credit), and the actors looked like they could actually be in college, but the college party scenes had my eyes rolled back so far in my head I couldn't see. I think it was clearly made by someone who hasn't been in college in a very long time. It reminded me of the HILAROUS fear-mongering-for-parents-of-high-school-students that Law & Order SVU (one of my favorite things in this world, by the way) loves to promote. I won't go into it any more here, but I honestly think that in a year with a dearth of excellent movies critics clung to the only fascinating intellectual story in the form of a blockbuster they could find. I think Winter's Bone was ten times the movie this was.

Day at the Museum

Plaid shirt- Target
T-shirt- Target
Leggings- American Apparel
Loafers- Target
music- "Lonely As Can Be"- The Concretes

Yesterday I went to the still life exhibit at the Dixon that ends today. (See how I procrastinate?) It was really lovely, as I am very interested in still lifes and if I go back to grad school 16th-18th century still lifes will probably be my chosen research topic. The exhibit featured a broad range of artists from Weston to Beuys to Courbet, with a weird sprinkling of Chinese sculpture and decorative arts thrown in mix. The Dixon is such a beautiful place(see below), even if my experience was slightly dimmed by the yapping old women that seem to haunt museums and galleries. It's not a professional sporting event, ladies. No need to yell. And for God's sake no need to read the informational plaques aloud. But I digress. I'd like to highlight on this blog some of what I do in my beloved, highly underrated and misunderstood underdawg city. I'm not great at taking photos but I will try.
I wore my comfy loafers cause the last thing I want to do is clip-clop around an echo-y museum. I might as well join those folks that say "innnnnteresting" at EVERY SINGLE ARTWORK they pass by. These loafers are slightly grandpa(is this a recurring theme?) but remind me more of classic cushy car shoes. Maybe I'll win the lottery and buy some Tod's, but until that day these will suffice. This t-shirt is an XXL from the clearance section at Target($3.48 yo!). In warm weather I normally wear this shirt backwards to get a nice U-back effect, but when I did that today it looked way too tomboy-ish and I turned it around right. I've fallen into the habit of buying XXL sizes of things I would never buy in my own size. I'm not sure yet if this is a good thing or not, but evidently my disgruntled kitties in the background here disapprove.

Hello, It's Me

cardigan- Old Navy
dress- vintage
tights- Target
shoes/boots(shoots)- Target
nail polish- Vintage Blue by Avon
music- "1-2-3 goodbye"- elvis perkins

Yes, me, not Todd Rundgren. It was (is?) a New Year's resolution of mine to update this thing more frequently(at all is more like it), but a surprisingly persistent stomach bug that had me hallucinating with fever at midnight on New Year's Eve has made that somewhat difficult. But here I am. You may be thinking many things while looking at this picture, from "stop looking at me like that" to "your hair is OUTTA CONTROL" and "your dog is the devil". And you would be right to think those things. But the tripod and I have been working together and hopefully this is just the beginning. This cardigan, despite a hole in the elbow that led a co-worker to call me a ragamuffin, is one of my favorites for its elusive slim-in-the-arms yet baggy-like-a-grandpa effect. But I really wouldn't want anything to detract from this dress, which I find insane.

It's like animal prints on crack. Lions and tigers and jaguars, oh my. A vertiable roster of endangered jungle cats. It was a stunningly unflattering mid-calf length when I got it, but I hemmed it to a more appropriate size.

As you will surely see in the future, I have a burgeoning nail polish problem. I wore only blood red from ages 18-22, and then I regressed to age 12, when I had an entire Caboodle full of nail polishes which I meticulously renamed(never satisfied with their sad boring original color titles) in a large notebook. Now I have not gone so far as to rename my new polishes yet, but as the Little Prince says, "On ne sais jamais." Instead I have become incredibly demanding of these bottles of paint. With this color I found the certain 18th century powder blue I've been looking for, flat but assuredly opaque. Look at this portrait by Gainsborough. See what I mean? Good to know the art history degree is not for naught!

Robert Andrews and his Wife Frances, Thomas Gainsborough, 1750

MIND EXPLOSION

please look at this
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