I guess it’s things like this that make me fall in love with the game of ice hockey over and over again…
xoxo,
ii
Some random searches Saturday, Dec 13 2008
blog and stuff you didn't need to know but I'm telling you anywa 9:31 pm
I know, I know. Grant Miller already does this. In a way. But, inspired by him, and the Stats function WordPress offers, I decided to check what search terms people have used to find my blog. Some of my favourites:
“ugly high heels” (1 hit)
“house igoogle application” (1)
“viscose” (2) Sorry??
“crazy huge boobs” (2) They must have been looking for my friend…
“cute penquin” (7)
“random recycling” (2)
“missoni” (12)
“boyfriend in high heels” (2) 2??? What the..??
And of course,
19 (!!) hits for “ugly boobs”
Riiight…
xoxo,
ii
The Shoe Queen by Anna Davis Saturday, Dec 13 2008
Books 9:16 pm
A few comments about a book I finished last night, The Shoe Queen by Anna Davis…
Blurb: In the Shoe Queen, author Anna Davis immerses readers in the glitter and excitement of 1920’s bohemian Paris – where one woman’s obsession with shoes leads her into a steamy affair that will make her question what maters most in life.
When English society beauty Genevieve Shelby King spots the most exquisite lace slippers on the feet of her archrival, she covets a pair of her own. But the exclusive designer, Paolo Zachari, denies her request – and no amount of money from her wealthy American husband will change his mind. Soon Genevieve’s desire for a pair of unobtainable shoes develops into an obsession with their elusive creator – threatening her marriage. Zachari awakens her to a passion beyond anything she as ever known, forcing her to confront the emptiness of her elaborately designed life and a secret buried deep in her past.
Opinion: I felt I read the book in two different way at one. On one hand, I was just reading the story, and on the other, I was reading about the fashion of the Jazz Age. The 20’s are not an era I’m too familiar with when it comes to fashion (in fact, I had to check the shoe design trends, for I had only a vague idea of the shoes of that time), so I enjoyed the learning experience.
Paris was in a big role in the book, which is understandable. Paris, and particularly the ideas people had of Paris were important in the years between the two wars, and while I knew of it, I knew of the rivers of Americans and English moving to Paris to experience the ‘Parisian life of arts and bohemian creativity’, I haven’t really payed that much attention to that side of the era. Once again, it was a learning experience. And I always love reading about Paris.
As for the story, I don’t know. I liked the way Davis didn’t tell everything, but left room for the reader to fill in the gaps. She did explore the inner life of her characters, well Genevieve, her husband Robert and her best friend Lulu at least, and gave a good picture of the demons and fears and hopes they were struggling with. During the book, some things seemed to be irrational, but they were explained in the end. But it wasn’t a simplified tying all together -type of solution, but it sort of rearranged the pieces you had, and suddenly you saw the pattern there. You understood them. Bit by bit the pieces fell into place nad you started to see the broken people with their fears and dreams and love.
While there were weaker points in the story, for example the early detailed descriptions of clothing and shoes, Davis got over those. And while with these types of stories you usually guess how it’s going to turn out, with the Shoe Queen you weren’t so interested in the destiny of Genevieve’s marriage, but on what will happen to the characters. What kind of persons are they and how they can handle this?
Grade: It wasn’t perfect, but it kept me reading till 4am, so… 8/10
xoxo,
ii
My Favourite Blog Post of the Week Saturday, Dec 13 2008
Lessons in Logic and Random Likes and random stuff I can't figure a category for 3:06 am
I might be in danger of developing a blog crush on Mr. Miller.
Random Likes: My Favourite Winter Dress Thursday, Dec 11 2008
My Friend With Huge Boobs and Random Likes and fashion 5:07 pm
Dressing for Christmas parties and Christmas itself is always tricky. You want to dress up of course, and express your festive mood. But you don’t want to look like a cross between a Christmas tree and a slutty elf, though. Unless of course you do like My Friend With Huge Boobs and I did when we attended the annual pre-Christmas party by the students’ group and went all out on the slutty elfs (elves??) mode… We got a lot of compliments for our outfits, though. But that’s besides the point. My point was, I have the perfect Christmas dress!
Trust Jean Paul Gaultier to come up with something that walks the fine balance between special and not-costume-y. This one is just the thing. Well, drop the boots, and change the gold into midnight blue. Add stockings and some sexy heels and it’s a very merry Christmas at ii’s!
What do you wear for the Holidays?
xoxo,
ii
Weather issues Thursday, Dec 11 2008
Confessions of a Shallow Mind and decisions are difficult and fashion 12:43 pm
I did something very very rare for me today. As I’m going home in few hours, I was putting together an outfit that would be chic yet comfortable in the plane. Especially as I’m feeling a bit of a cold coming on. I also thought of the fact that I need to drive in the other end, so I turned to flats (plane + driving = flats, simple math, really!). Then, in some weird brain malfunction, I checked the weather.
I never check the weather! Not ever! I’m known for being most weather-inappropriately dressed in all occasions! I’m talking about suede boots in rain, about miniskirts in ski race events, about sleeveless dresses in January. I don’t do weather. Period.
I must still be under influence of the cold medication.
xoxo,
ii
Must-haves Tuesday, Dec 9 2008
Confessions of a Shallow Mind and Must-haves and fashion 2:20 pm
I figured I’d start a new category. Must-haves. I guess it was inspired by my post about sponging and the influences we get. And partly about someone saying recently that I have an awesome wardrobe. (I do.) But, I thought I’d start to keep this irregularly regular journal of what’s currently a must-have in my life. Of course there’s going to be clothes, but there’s also some other things, like books or hobbies or whatnot. For this first post, though, I’ll make one about my all-time permanent fashion must-haves.
1) Chanel suit. Seriously, you can wear it casual or fancy, just the skirt, just the jacket, in all sorts of combinations. It’s my go-to outfit. It never looks bad or out of place. (Trust me, I wore the jacket to a hockey game, and it worked.)
2) Heels. In particular Christian Louboutin black pumps with stiletto heel. Again, there’s no place, outside of tennis court, where these would be wrong.
3) Scarves. I love them. From vintage silk scarves from Hermès to the hand-knit huge ones I’ve made myself to the lacy barely-there evening wraps, I love them. In fact, I can rarely be seen without one. If ever. Well, I don’t wear one to bed. Usually.
4) 50’s. I love the 50’s silhouettes, from the sleek and narrow pencil skirt to the über-feminine full skirt and tiny waist. The coordinated hats and gloves and shoes. I love being a woman, and I love dressing like one.
5) My vintage lace LBD. It’s a timeless dress, with black lace on black satin. It has an open neckline, comes down to my knees, it fits like a glove. It’s timeless in shape and material. It’s one of those magnificent pieces of clothing that speaks volumes, in most delicate of whispers. Those are rare in these days.
xoxo,
ii
Sponging Tuesday, Dec 9 2008
Confessions of a Shallow Mind and fashion 2:03 pm
It is a known fact that we’re influenced by our surroundings. We may not know it but we are. We start to imitate the accent or slowly gravitate towards the unofficial dress-code at the work place. It rubs on us.
I’ve always cherished this ability to take inspirations and influences from what’s around me. I know who I am, what I like, but I use what I see and hear to define and fine-tune that what I know to be me.
Currently, I’m very much in love with the movie Penelope. As a reaction, I bought several pairs of over-the-knee socks in different colors, and some cute girly shoes. And I’m seriously thinking of ripping off that coat she had! You know, the one with the buttons?
Seriously, is that a cute coat or what?
I also notice, that whenever I read a classic, especially Jane Austen, I start using more complicated language in my own life as well. It’s like the elaborate language rubs on me, like an accent would. Back in high school, my math ad physics teacher was originally from Poland, and while she spoke fluent English, she still had that Eastern European ’s’, kind of hissing, you know? My friends could always tell when I’d had math or physics.
But, we’re influenced. I’m influenced by what we see and hear. If I’m spendinga longer amount of time with BF, I notice I start to dress more ‘rock’. Not because he’s all black clothes and hard-core jewellery, no no. But because he likes to listen to the music. Or if I’m staying at grand-mère’s, it’s more fluttery dresses and ribbons and elegant heels. If I’m home, by myself? Right now it’s mary janes and over-the-knee-socks. with a 50’s skirt and a sweater. No pearls, though.
What are you influenced by?
xoxo,
ii
