It Ended.

Last night with a lightning bolt on my head and a "Save Ginny from the Basilisk" t-shirt on I saw it all end. It's about time for Snape to get the respect he deserves from that Potter kid!

It's been 12 years since I started reading the books and I've loved every minute of it.  Looks like I might have to grow up now or something...

Mischief Managed

I Say, Old Chap

I have previously stated my staunch support of hats. Clearly I should move to the UK because they seem to share this obsession. First the Royal Wedding and now the Royal Ascot, which is going on right now, Britian's social calendar seems filled with many a hat wearing opportunity. 

We Americans may have our own derbys, but are sadly lacking in stodgy British folk. Stiff upper lips and a country that loves headgear makes Ascot the best race for people watching. 

The British being British:

Knock-out racing style:

I'm also a sucker for jockey uniforms:

People who were having the most fun:

{Images via: Guardian.co.uk, IBTimes.com, DailyMail.co.uk, Zimbio.com }

Fanciness

My sister's getting married in 3 months and is in full bride mode arranging and sending out bridesmaids links, etc. Apparently, Anthropologie (ie. the-best-store-ever) now does bridal! Or the company that owns Anthro just launched a bridal line called BHLDN.com. It's amazing and full of whimsical things I am coveting for myself that can be worn far away from a wedding. Check it out because there's a pair of jelly heart shoes and hat and a polka dot dress that have my non-bridal name written all over it!

{All images via BHDLN.com}

New Year's Wish

Oh to be laméd in gold for New Year's Eve. Sadly my budget does not allow for this lovely Kate Spade dress and shoes so instead I'll be working a lovely plum velvet shift dress instead. Can wait to start teasing out my hair!

Cupcakes & Mad Men Soiree

The best part about being a costume design student is that we all enjoy any excuse to get dressed up. Laura, friend and fellow MFA student, hosted a make-your-own Mad Men cupcake viewing party so out came the bold graphic print and hair ratting comb!
 

Tunic: H&M

Triple Strand Necklace: Forever 21

Glasses Necklace: H&M

Leggings: Target

Flats: Beacon's Closet

This is my first outfit taking photo! Not gonna lie, I'm super self-conscious about it. We costume folk prefer to remain behind the scenes. But I figured what the hell, why not?

Oh and let me tell ya, talk about a challenge fitting this hair into my scooter helmet! As you can see it deflated a little. ;)

Check out my Peggy cupcake!

Dream Summer Wear

I spent an embarrassingly large portion of my day (after catching up on last night's True Blood with my neighbors) lounging about the house on Style.com checking out all the Resort 2011 shows that I missed. Dudes, after checking out Alice + Olivia's, I want to dress like this for the rest of the summer. The line is full of urbanized retro glamour, bold colors, head scarves and turbans, funky sunglasses and bold lip color. It's basically a line of everything that I love. I have yet to wear a turban Sunset Boulevard style in my lifetime but now I'm seriously considering hunting one down. I mean, I am living in L.A. after all!

 

Behold: Truly Hideous Pants

Images via Style.com

These wondrous pants are courtesy of Givenchy Resort 2011.
The worst part about them is how they sneak up on you. Scrolling down on the image everything looks fine as the red is camouflaging. Only when you look a bit closer does the horror become clear and then you can't look away!

The Kentucky Derby

I do love an excuse to dress up and wear a fancy hat. When I lived in NYC, my friends and I would to the Easter Parade {another traditional hat wearing festivity}. The actual parade is nothing like the Judy Garland/Fred Astaire film Easter Parade, but it's still fun to get dressed up and look at other people. And when followed by a picnic in Central Park it's even better.

Sadly, I'm not in Kentucky {but my sister is - Hi Esther!} so I'll just have to enjoy these dapper derby folk via the internet. And there's the added bonus of jockey uniforms, which I love!

BTW - How fantastic does Johnny Wier look in his enormous hat? I think he pulls that look off better than most of the ladies.

 

{All images via KentuckyDerby.com}

FIDM Costume Exhibit

 In front of Star Trek, designed by Michael Kaplan

I was unbelievably excited to attend the FIDM Hollywood 2010: The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design opening last Saturday!! I was recruited, along with a few other MFA Costume Designers, by Kristin Burke from Frocktalk.com to interview attendees and take photos. We got to meet so many amazing people like Audrey Fisher, designer for True Blood and Mona May, the designer for Clueless and Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion, and Monique Prudhomme,  the designer for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus to say the least!

The highlight of the evening was meeting Helen Butler, who had her beautiful costumes for My One And Only on display. We talked for a good length of time and her and her husband were absolutely lovely. 

On top of all the amazing people there, of course gorgeous costumes on display too.

Check out how the costume designer Ann Roth made Meryl Streep so tall in Julie & Julia.

And this leather jacket from Sherlock Holmes, designed by Jenny Beavan, is rather underwhelming in person but was incredible on screen thanks to the standing of the collar and the richness of the leather. 

 Young Victoria, designed by Sandy Powell 

Nine, designed by Colleen Atwood 

Bright Star, designed by Janet Patterson

Coraline, designed by Deborah Cook and Margaret Meyer

Pirate Radio, designed by Joanna Johnston

So cute!

Now, I am no fan of Crocs. I don't care how comfortable my mom and sister say they are, I'm pretty sure that Crocs are the ugliest footwear on the planet. But I was looking through Betty Suarez's massive footwear collection at work and saw these glorious wedged heels. Unlike regular Crocs, I would totally wear these all the time. They're by United Nude and they come in 14 different colors. I am geeking out over these!

Mother: I'm sorry I didn't believe you when you swore that heeled Crocs existed. Where these the one's you were talking about?

Finger Waves

It was my friend Lori’s 26th birthday this weekend and she decided to have it at our favorite bar Dutch Kills, a speakeasy. So naturally, me being a costumer and she being a historian, we simply had to dress for the occasion!

To go with my outfit I went all out and attempted finger waves. Well, faux finger waves. I don’t have enough coordination to master the real hairstyle so I decided to do it my own way. Well, the “easy” way still took 3 hours and nearly a pound of hair gel.