MOD Monday - 'Veruschka'

It's hard to believe that Veruschka von Lehndorff, the popular model of the 1960's whose name was shortened to simply 'Veruschka', turned 71 this year.  Born in Russia, but of German descent, she came from a military background being that her father was a German Count & Army reserve officer who was a part of the German resistance.  He was executed when she was five years old for attempting to assassinate Adolf Hitler.  Although she was born into wealth, after her father's death her family was left homeless.

She was discovered at the age of 20, and began modeling full-time in Paris.  In 1961 she became acquainted with Eileen Ford of the Ford Modeling Agency & moved to New York.  Being a huge fan of the infamous eccentric Salvador Dali, I was amazed to discover that she had worked closely with him on several projects! 

Although modeling was her forte', she had dabbled in acting a bit appearing in only about a dozen films, none of which were box office hits, her last being a bit part in the 2006 Casino Royale, a prequel to the popular James Bond movies. Throughout her modeling career, she appeared on the cover of Vogue quite a few times which made her well known around the world.  Her look was uniquely distinctive and she was the ultimate chameleon when it came to adapting to the ever changing style trends of the 60's...

Being a Countess by her birth right, she was the epitome of the rags to riches story having gone back and forth between wealth, poverty and finally doing very well for herself in the end.  As the years progressed, she became a well known 'Mod' fashion Icon of the 60's, having been the muse of every designer she came in contact with.

Last year, Veruschka made a runway appearance at the Giles 2011 Spring/Summer show in London for fashion week.  She was part of his finale sporting a long orchid and bow print gown, with a 7 foot boa decorating her hair, definitely proving that youth really has nothing to do with the way beauty should be perceived.

   
            
pics: modeikat.de, flickr.com, tumblr.com, freeimagefinder.com, pichaus.com, trendland.net, styleguru.com, huffingtonpost.com, myspace.com

Fashion In Film Friday - "Pretty Woman"

The 1990 romantic comedy 'Pretty Woman' starring Julia Roberts opposite leading man, Richard Gere was a box office hit being one of the highest grossing films for that year.  The movie was originally intended to be a dark drama about prostitution in New York in the 1980's, having Roberts character, Vivian addicted to drugs.  Although not given credit for it, Pretty Woman's story line, in my opinion, was kind of jocked from the vintage 1963 comedy 'Irma La Douce' starring Shirley MacLaine & Jack Lemmon.

Personally, I don't fancy this film for it's overtly glorifying attitude towards prostitution as a career choice, although it's considered to be the oldest profession, if you want to call it that ah ha?!  O.k. now onto where fashion plays a part of today's blurb...  So of course, the hooker chic Julia wears for most of the beginning of this film is not what we're referring to when suggesting this is a movie that inspired fashion but rather the haute couture she wore at dinner with edward and at the polo match with him as well...  From the thigh high patent hooker boots to the floor sweeping, off the shoulder red evening gown, all credit for every single piece Roberts wore in 'Pretty Woman' goes to Marilyn Vance, a Brooklyn native who resides in Los Angeles to date.  Vance has been a member of the 'Costume Designers Guild' 30 years & had worked on the sets of Fast Times At Ridgemont High & Pretty In Pink.  Her clothing designs that transformed Roberts character Vivian from street walker to prima donna had everyone wondering..."Who designed that?"

The movie 'Pretty Woman' had an underlying sense of charm appeal from the get go, because the idea of the knight in shining armor coming to rescue the damsel in distress is always going to be every girls favorite fairy tale... 


 fanpix.net , moviegoods.com , emilyjanesimkins.wordpress.com , styleguru.com 

Fashion In Film Friday

When you think of movies that inspire fashion, how can you not think of Carrie, Miranda, Sam & Charlotte, the wonderful witty women of Sex And The City? Oh, and let's not forget the 'fashions' which have been said to have a character spot status of their own!  The first episode of the popular HBO hit series was aired on June 6th 1998 and was based partly on Candace Bushnells' novels of the same name.  Her books were compiled from articles she had written for the New York Observer and she admits that her main character, Carrie Bradshaw a.k.a. Sarah Jessica Parker, is in fact her alter ego.

  
Besides the obvious that the story line primarily dealt with scenarios relating to 'women's issues' in regards to men and sex, 'Sex And The City' was all about fashion!  In both the series and the two mainstream movies, these girls always remained in rare style form.  Who they've worn and what they've worn is too vast to mention in it's entirety given that there have been over a decade of episodes, but Oscar de' la Renta and Monolo Blahnik pieces were always in the mix for sure.      

Each character had her own unique flair.  Carrie was uptown chic and fearless with her fashion choices pairing thrift store vinrage with haute' couture.  Charlotte was reserved, cutesy and feminine and was all about matching her bag with her shoes.  Miranda gave rise to corporate chic and women's tailored suits and last but certainly not least the bold and bawdy Samantha exuded sex appeal and confidence to the max with her dare to bare flair!

This show gave a quirky yet realistic insight into the way women perceive men, relationships, fashion and everything in between however, as much as I enjoyed the entertainment, I could never get past the far fetched concept of how Carrie Bradshaw was able to live in New York City on a newspaper columnist's budget while all at the same time being able to party at A-list clubs every night and have money left over to buy haute' couture?  


The most intriguing part of the series is that each week, the ladies of 'Sex And The City' gave us a glimpse of the diversity that each of us has inside ourselves...  The prude, the free spirit, the goal oriented career woman and the bodacious bad girl!


Which one are you?...as for me, I'll never tell ;)   




pics: wallpapergate.com, filmcritic.com, blogs.tr.com