dressed to kill

 The costumes in Catching Fire

 Effie Trinket, whatever happened to you? You looked so prim and proper in The Hunger Games, tottering around in your too tight skirt and heels. Now look at you. You look like you're wearing a Pepto Bismol pink cotton ball. What is with those gloves? Who decided wearing multiple rings over the gloves would be a good idea? Nobody sane, that's for sure.  The only good thing I can say about this ensemble is the shoes are pretty interesting. They go with the overall look, very Alexander McQueen, very Sarah-Burton-organic.

Caesar Flickerman, on the other hand, looks absolutely resplendent in a classic black suit-tastefully decorated with a subtle pattern-and accented with metallic gold. Sadly he chose to share Effie Trinket's pink hair and looks out of place with his new elegant attire.

Cornelius Snow is also surprisingly simple. (In fact, all the male costumes appear to be parred-down.) His all black outfit rightly suits his villainous character and his artfully arranged scarf just reminds viewers of his insatiable ability to exploit others for his needs-the scarf appears to be made from the luxurious fur of some beautiful animal.

The long awaited wedding clothes of the two star-crossed lovers of the Hunger Games series are here. Decked in white, the two newlyweds stay true to Capitol fashion (as if they had a choice) with stunning outfits. Peeta is put in a simple white suit with a gorgeously cut jacket and unexpectedly refreshing collar to replace the standard button down and tie. One question, though: Why is he wearing Uggs?

His blushing bride Katniss, who was probably repulsed by the elaborate gown Cinna stuffed her into, nonetheless wears the dress with her characteristic confidence. A brocade bodice almost seamlessly waterfalls into a carefully draped explosion of tulle. A sparkling silver wire twists itself around her dress and out into the air-the Capitol touch to what could've been another Oscar de la Renta gown.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Finnick Odair is probably one of the most anticipated characters in the movie. He looks fully District 4, donning a white peasant blouse over his bare, sculptured chest and what looks like a sea green kilt layered under what appears to be teh skin of some dead aquatic animal. Cinched with a black belt that matches his lace up boots, Finnick looks quite well put together. At his neck hangs a couple of necklaces, perhaps his tokens from home.

You can find the rest of the cast and their costumes here.

"I think she just asked if she could touch my mango."

Let's just talk a little bit about The Mortal Instruments.



HO my god.
This series won my heart. It is definitely one of my favorite book series ever. It's not just romance and predictable events because it really isn't predictable. It's about mythological creatures and angels and demons and "downworlders" and nephilim and so much more. The plot is just so developed and unfolds into such a great story it's something you simply can't put down and come back to later. This is a book series that you take with you when you're stranded on an island or the apocalypse is near. I just lost my mind in these books from the moment it started. Cassandra Clare is a Phenomenal  author.

 I absolutely adore the way she writes. It's witty, and funny, and sometimes so full of motion it's amazing. I zipped through City of Bones, City of Ashes, and City of Glass so quickly I should get an award for breaking a record. Like "Hyuh! I'm the motherfucking reading master!"
 
The books are about 350-400 pages each and there's 5 books and a sixth that is yet to be released, so they're pretty long but the story has got it all. There was so much adventure and action and it just had me chewing on my fingers and gripping my nook so tightly. Fortunately I never listened to my friend who said it was a long, boring, confusing and poorly written. I read it and I was like

 I ain't ever gonna listen to your review of a book again. Never.

And then she was like "Kirsten, sweetie."

 

I was just like "How. Rude."
 It also had romance, and I loved that the romance wasn't just between two characters (Clace aka: Clary and Jace) It was within all of the characters, from Simon to Isabelle to Magnus and Alec and Jordan and Maia... Oh my gosh it was so wonderful.

AND THEN everything came to a halt when Clary and Jace discovered that they might possibly be siblings.


...I know. You guys are like.

At the end of the book Valentine (Whom is a freaking great villain. I love him lots. Same goes for Jonathan) He's like oh and guys?
 I had to put the book down for a while because I had a hard time with that because, EWE. JUST EWE. Then I picked it back up because I couldn't stop. I was like Incest? Alright. That's coo. I can handle a little forbidden fruit action.
My take on their relationship at the time was:
Don't judge me. It was kinda hot. For a bit. ONLY because they didn't act or seem like brother and sister.
Okay no. That's wrong. SO wrong.
 I have a problem.
 

They're just so perfect for each other.
Then it turned out they weren't actually brother and sister because Valentine is a deceiving and lying asshole. (But really sexy asshole) And Jonathan Morgenstern (aka Sebastian) is actually Clary's blood brother, but he's kind of a douche. (A really sexy douche)
Then things got really intense between Clary and Jace like, "Let's get married and be happy forever" intense.
And I was like come on guys. Come on. Just do it already.
Peer pressure guys.
Feel it.
Come on.
Just do it.
You're so close.
Just get it over and done with.
 
I cried. A lot. A lot. Let me make that clear.
A LOT. There was a lot of crying.
 
When Simon became a vampire. I cried. But then he was all cool and like "Yeah. Ugh. Yeah. I'm a vampire. Es coo. I've got some swaggy vampire mojo."

And all the girls are like damn son.

 
These books are amazing. I swear your reaction will be:
 
It has Angels, Nephils (Angel/Human), Vampires, Werewolves, Demons, Warlocks, etc. It was such a great journey to read these books.

 I CANNOT wait for City of Heavenly Fire. I can't stop thinking about it. It's not gonna be released for a while...
 

Then finding out they were doing a movie, I literally flipped my  phone in the air (because that's where I read it off of) then the cast... I had a difficult time trying to see Lily Collins as Clary Fray but she grew on me and now I've accepted her as Clary Fray. Look at her.

 Especially after seeing released set photos and the trailer. And the trailer it's all mysterious and insane and perfect and Magnus is like "Yo clary. There's a map in yo head gurl. You da key to our survival yo."

 And Clary sees Jace and she screams and she looks at Simon and she's like "Did you see that?" And Simon's like "What? Huh?"
 And Jace is so sexy and he's like "I've been fighting demons all around the world." In a sexy english accent
. 
 (Which I don't think he had in the books. I'm like pretty sure he didn't. But Jamie's cool so whatever.)

  And I mean. Come on. She's Phil Collins' child. She's got to be talented. Somewhat.
Stars: 5/5
Order: City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls, City of Heavenly Fire (Don't forget to read the Infernal Devices series which is like a prequel)

Kirsten Bird Signing Off

 

And here's some cute little hedgehogs and JCB with a mustache.  And the link for the trailer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4axPibsp4Ao


And here's a little something that made me think of Lola.

almost alice

Costumes in Alice in Wonderland (2010)

(This was a fashion class assignment a little while ago and um i just thought I'd throw it in here since I can't think of anything else to write about yet.)

   Costume designer Colleen Atwood wins her third Academy Award for her work in Alice In Wonderland, Tim Burton's dark, twisted interpretation of the beloved Lewis Carroll book. (In fact, a lot of her inspiration came from the illustrations in early publications of the classic.)  Her costumes are absolutely riveting; they define a character before they've said even a word and contain intricate detail.

 Alice's costumes in the movie are unique in that they change throughout the movie. Given that she is the lead female protagonist, it comes as no surprise that her character should prove dynamic. Her growing knowledge, liberty and responsibility in Wonderland are reflected in each of her costumes. Before Alice even tumbles down the rabbit hole, she is a prisoner of a pretentious and mundane society which she rebels against in her own small ways. On the way to her surprise engagement party her mother inspects and scolds her for having forgotten her stockings and her corset. Otherwise, Alice looks youthful and demure in a pale  blue dress, small black buttons going down the front and a black ribbon slipping through the white eyelet at its collar. After her downward spiral comes to a rest she struggles to remain in her slip as her body rapidly changes sizes. Emerging about two feet tall, her dress hangs in large folds and is secured by ribbons about her neck, representing perhaps the newfound freedom of  Wonderland. After meeting the Mad Hatter and being rudely stuffed into a teacup she again finds herself too small for her clothes. Luckily the nifty Hatter designs her a brand new dress from her slip with a few flicks of his scissors. It's a shimmering strapless number, with a large flower on the right side of the bust, ribbons hanging down from it . Alice, however, outgrows this dress as well when she elevates into a gargantuan being, temporarily known as Um from Umbridge. Out of respect and admiration for all things large, the Queen of Hearts takes her in as her 'new favorite' and outfits her in drapes from her castle (a la Scarlett O'Hara). The resulting dress is a turning point in the story. It's similar to other Alice dresses in shape and movement but also shows signs of confidence and power. Instead of the pale and gray colors of her previous dresses, this one is bright red tulle spilling out from the shreds of gray drapes with little hearts. It is asymmetrical, unconventional and rebellious. It is the beginning of a new Alice. Escaping on the Bandersnatch to the White Queen, Alice rests in a comfortable and loose fitting pants and top outfit, similar to a pajama. Simple and understated, it also helps make the transition to her last costume. Accepting the role of champion, Alice rides out to battle in a full suit of armor, radiating courage, control, and a victory for the White Queen. 

Striding into her cavernous throne room, the Red Queen cuts a mean figure from the start. A nod to the Elizabethean gowns of the 17th century, the Red Queen's dress features a waspish waist, puff sleeves, velvet bodice and stripes and hearts to go with it. She is a regal sight in royal reds and golds but also a sinister black. The fabric of the dress is stiffer and less fluid than those of the White Queen and Alice. Although less credit goes to Atwood, the head and makeup of Helena Bonham Carter makes the character. Her head is disproportionately large, suggesting an inflated ego, a trait at least the Hatter is aware of, complimenting her on her most hat-worthy head. Her eyebrows thin and her lips void of color save for a small dab of lipstick in the shape of a heart portray strict characteristics and a constantly pursed mouth.

Her sister, the ever gentle and frustratingly graceful White Queen, shows her beauty in thick, full eyebrows and dark lipstick (because Tim Burton has to keep some things dark). In stark contrast to her dark facial features, she dons a Victorian-inspired, shimmering white ball gown that brings to mind Cinderella on her big night. Innocence and elegance glow from every thread and pearl of the dress. Her bodice froths with cream ruffles and embroidery her collar and sleeves are unexpectedly sheer and little sparkles lay like morning dew across it. At her long pale throat is wrapped a lace and pearl choker.

   All characters in Wonderland have one costume which remains mostly the same throughout the entire movie, perhaps emphasizing the fact that it is all in fact a dream. Alice may grow and change but the characters of Wonderland will play out their stories in the same way forever.

-Lola Olvera

Hush, Hush

WARNING: MAY CONTAIN A FEW SPOILERS SO STOP NOW AND COME BACK WHEN YOU READ THE BOOKS.

Alright guys. Let's get down to business.
With a book Review. Again.
Holy fucking shit. (I got that from Anastasia Steel/Grey. That phrase just kinda stuck.) The Hush, Hush series. Just. Words cannot express. It was incredible! I loved it! If you have not read it yet, then go fucking read it. My emotions were just all over the place when I got into this series. Patch Cipriano. Seriously.
.
  He was just, perfection. He was definitely a cocky son of a bitch but he had such a huge heart under his dark character because he really loved Nora. It was just so riveting I could not put any of them down. If you don't already know, it's a story about a girl (Nora) who ends up getting stalked by this really sexy classmate whom sits next to her in class. And Nora kinda dismisses him and says something like
 
He teases and messes with her at first, but later on he starts to fall for her and she him. Even though, his first intention was to get close enough to her so he can kill her, he ends up saving her and in a way, she saves him.
Very cliché, I know.
.  
And that one Motel scene just whew! *Fanning face* HOT. They got to that moment and I was so thrilled like

 And everyone started taking their clothes off like
They have a rocky relationship but they really do make each other whole. I will admit I broke into a million pieces when they broke up and then Patch had dated that one bitch. I was like
But Nora was just so broken and Patch was douche and everything was depressing.
 
I was just like WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. please get back together guys...Then they did and I was like  
And THEN Nora lost her memory! And I was like you've got to be shitting me.
Their passion was just so heated and enthralling I was a bit surprised since I knew it was a YA book. (Not that I have anything against YA books because I actually read a crapload of those more than anything) Especially when things got STEAMAY. I mean, anytime that happened I was practically inhaling my nook. I got all warm and fuzzy inside and I was like heh. yayuh. Nora and Patch gon' get it on.
.
 So anyways, it was one of the best series I've ever gotten into. Try it, and I promise you'll love it. I cried about a thousand times, no exaggeration.

 And the in the end when they kinda sorta got married (not legally) I busted out like a wee baby.
 

My Rating: 4/5

Kirsten Bird Signing Off