Would you like to peer into my gypsy bag?

I've always loved kitschy eccentric bags like the one in this picture. They seem to have become more popular recently along with the sort of bohemian grunge look. I own a couple along these lines, but none that are quite as detailed as I'd like. They pop up on tumblr every once in a while, usually accompanying some gorgeous supermodel in a foreign country, meaning the bag is probably designer and over $1000, however I would be willing to invest some serious cash if I found one of these bags that I really fell in love with.

"It doesn't matter what you wear" is the biggest lie ever told.

My life revolves around fashion, not because I like to shop, or I love clothes, but because it means something more than that to me. It is all I think about, it's what I focus on in my free time, I blog about it, research it, it's really what I have a passion for. I believe in presentation; and I don't see it as materialistic, I see it as art and self invention. How you present yourself and how you live your life is greatly affected by who you are what you look like. You wouldn't dress goth if you are a preppy girl, because it's not who you are, simple as that. I can't wear jeans and a hoodie in public because its not who I am. It makes me extremely uncomfortable. Not because I think it's ugly, or because I think I am better than that, or high strung, it's because that does not put forth an honest image of who I am. Being understood is something that is important to everyone. You wouldn't want someone to think you loved listening to Lady Gaga if you despised her, that's what it's like when I wear jeans and a tee shirt. I want to hide away and not let anyone see me, it's like im lying. And I don't want people to see me as that because that is not who I am. And I am proud of who I am. I want it to show. And I can do that though my clothes. It is not just about personality, all these things go hand in hand to make you who you are. What I'm wearing can determine if i have a good or bad day, because it determines whether or not I am expressing who I really am. If you lied to everyone all day, you probably wouldn't feel so great by the end of it, because no one knew the truth, it eats away at you. That's what it feels like when I wear the wrong outfit. In order to feel true to myself, I have to get it just right. I believe that is true for many people, whether they think so or not. I believe fashion is important. And it is a completely different thing from person to person. It's not about designer, it's about finding the perfect thing that expresses who you are. 

Style Inspiration: Abbey Lee Kershaw

Abbey Lee Kershaw is a 23 year old high fashion model from Melbourne Australia, she is known for her nose ring and adorably sweet face, and an inspiration to Karl Lagerfeld.  As far as models go, she is my personal favorite. You can see more on Abbey here.

Style Inspiration: Atlanta De Cadenet Taylor

Atlanta De Cadenet Taylor is a socialite and model, daughter of photographer Amanda De Cadenet and Duran Duran bassist John Taylor. She can be seen in many of The Cobra Snake's infamous socialite hipster party photos here.

Palladium Authenticity - Alice Dellal

Less Gett Some Shoess

When I was a kid...like a very little kid, as in two years old I was obsessed with shoes. I had a big basket full of them and my favorite were a pair of Baby Bop velcro shoes. I remember having a thing for shoes all throughout elementary school..It's almost creepy I remember half my friends I had in first and second grade by their footwear. It's actually pretty ridiculous. What I find more odd is that after probably fifth grade I lost it..usually people increase their fashion fetishes as they get older. I haven't really been much of a shoe person for the past ten years or so, however lately I'm feeling it comin' back! I can't stop oogling! Uh oh, one more thing I can't afford! :(

Moroccan Style in Miami:

Well I found the other article I was referring to however it was in House Beautiful of November 2008, not Domino. Unfortunately I could not find images of two of my favorite rooms, but here are the rest. This Miami home was decorated by Gene Meyer and Frank De Biasi in a Moroccan style, which honestly reminds be of the 2008 movie Mamma Mia! with Amanda Seyfried and Meyrl Streep shot in Greece. Which is absolutely beautiful.

Vintage Decor:

This is an article I stumbled upon in Domino Magazine from March of 2007, while I was looking for inspiration photos for a Lighting course I was taking. It didn't really fit into lighting inspiration at the time, but I saved the magazine especially for this article and one other I will post later if I can find it.

It is missing one page, but this is the gist of it. The article was about a woman and her husband from Portland ME who run an interior design business based around thrifting quirky vintage pieces. This spread was a tour of their own home. I especially love the closet. The colors are much more vibrant in the actual magazine, but this gives a pretty good feel.

Currently Most Played 25:

Are you a Fann?

Dakota Fanning is my all time favorite actress. I don't really follow celebrities, I find the obsession with people of whom you do not know personally to be a bit shallow and creepy, but one person I would be so so excited to see is Dakota. She is such a talented young girl and every movie I have seen her in has been absolutely great. She mostly plays dramatic roles which she does very well might I add, however she is also rather diverse. One of her more recent roles was that of her somewhat controversial portrayal of Cherie Curry in The Runaways, that particular movie I believe got a bit too much hype for what it was. Don't get me wrong it was well worth watching, but if you are judging Dakota's acting don't use that as your go-to film. I've compiled a list of my favorite Dakota movies I have seen here, enjoy!

(The BEST ones have asterisks)

I Am Sam (2001)*

Sweet Home Alabama (2002)

Uptown Girls (2003)*

The Cat in The Hat (2003)

Hide and Seek (2005)

War of The Worlds (2005)*

Dreamer (2005)

Charlotte's Web (2005)

Hounddog (2005)*

The Secret Life of Bees (2008)*

Coraline (voice) (2009)*

Push (2009)*

New Moon (2009)

The Runaways (2010)*

Eclipse (2010)

For a full filmography visit her IMBD page here.

Inspiration: Countryside

Cecilia Cassini: 10 Year Old Fashion Designer

Not sure how I feel about this. I guess if you don't have your designs at Fred Segal by age 10 you are a failure. I definitely checked out her website though ceciliacassini.com, which reminded me of Eloise at the Plaza which I absolutely adore. Her attitude is crazy I don't remember kids ever acting like that when I was younger, however I guess her having her own business is cool for kids...Her designs are pretty cute, I just find it a bit questionable when 10 year olds have become mini adults, 15 year olds have become junkies, and 25 year olds...well..where are they? Oh yeah I guess they are too old for the limelight..they have disappeared into oblivion...how promising.

Skinny Love

As humans we all get engrossed in whatever we do and love. If you are a scholar, you strive to have a brilliant mind, if you are a comedian you strive to have great personality, if you are a politician you strive to have a good  reputation, and as a model, you strive to be thin. Of course lots of people strive to be thin, not just models, but what I've come to realize is not everyone has the same mindset when it comes thin. Generally girls want to be skinny, they might try starving themselves for a couple days then go back to normal, however girls in fashion take it very seriously. I myself have adapted to this mindset, honestly probably through tumblr. I blog about 50 images per day, and run a primarily fashion related feed, being 90% models and girls under 100 pounds. When you spend most of your day submerged in these images, some may say you get brainwashed, which may be true, but I have really just come to embrace it. People who really truly live for fashion also live to be thin. They really don't eat. There is no healthy secret. They barely eat. However it is not anorexia, it is a lifestyle choice. They live for the image, the clothes, they themselves are art. They want to look a certain way to evoke a certain image. For the general population, being 90 pounds is not a healthy, realistic, or an attainable goal, however living in Los Angeles, going to fashion school, and becoming an avid blogger I have come to realize that for myself, I understand it. It is one of those things that you choose to do or not to do in your life. It's not an easy thing to do, you can lose it at any time, however being thin to trendy people is the same as being brilliant to the scholar, funny to the comedian, or having a good reputation to the politician. Its not a size, it's an image and personality. It is a measure of success and commitment to the fashion world.

Bon Iver - Skinny Love

Bohemian Ink

I am planning on getting some ink done on my lower right arm, but I want a sort of bohemian style rather than a hardcore tattoo. I haven't come up with a particular design yet but I really like most of these (minus the stupid diamond on that guys chest). I rarely come across pictures of these more earthy designs but if anyone has any ideas or pictures I'd love to take a look. I am particularly fond of the one on the upper left.

Young Hollywood:

Miley Cyrus

Normally young American stars are not something I pay attention to, of course,** I consider myself to be far too indie for that. **So obviously the automatic reaction to the Justin Biebers, The Disney stars, the kiddie bagillionaires, they all pass under the radar with not as much of a nod, however regrettably enough I have to say, overtime I have become pretty accepting of Miley Cyrus. As we all know she was a rainbow and sparkles wholesome Disney girl in Hannah Montana, which she did well, no scandal tons of fans, she pulled it off; however that was a few years ago now. Currently she has been given ridicule for dancing like a stripper,  and become far too sexualized, however I have to add, I honestly think she is doing pretty damn well. Where 17 year old starlets are involved I see no reason to call up the rehab. Growing out of the Disney limelight is like the path you don't dare travel. Miley however, who can have her moments, has caught my attention several times being quite fashionable. Which is very promising regarding her age and fame status, she is no MK&A, or Alexa Chung, but she seems to have caught onto the fashion bug early of which I applaud her.

It's a long shot..

When I was kid I used to watch really random movies from the public library and some of them were ridiculously good..there was one that was set in Ireland or Scotland or Wales or somewhere over that way that had something to do with narwhals, and their tusks, and a curse, but I can't for the life of me remember the title! If anyone has any idea what I'm talking about please let me know!

It also reminds me of The Secret of Roan Inish, in which seals play a part in, not narwhals, regardless it is a FANTASTIC movie, of which I do not know a single person who has seen it.

DIY of the Day:

Applique Crosses-
Inverted (or upside down) crosses are all the rage in the fashion world right now, however as I am not completely surrounded by people in the know, I'd rather save myself from the dirty looks at the grocery store and just use regular right side up crosses. I'd prefer not to have the general public think I'm satanic. Anyhow I recently bought some velour-like cheetah pants from a thrift store which I plan on cutting up for applique purposes..I was originally going to do it onto a loose black tee shirt, along with some distressing and holes, but I'm liking this shorts idea...

The Time Has Come...

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax—
And cabbages—and kings—
And why the sea is boiling hot—
And whether pigs have wings."

That is the most famous part of one of my all time favorite poems "The Walrus and the Carpenter" by Lewis Carroll, who most know for Alice in Wonderland, which I really find to be a bit overrated. There is this really weird enactment of this story in an old VHS movie version of Alice in Wonderland (1999) with Whoopi Goldberg , and a super cracked out song about turtle soup...I would advise you watch it.

U2 - Get On Your Boots (Justice Remix)

Put on Your Boots!

November is definitely boot season, and I'm not talking about those crappy suede slouch suede boots that they sell at Macy's or whatever, I'm talking about legit boots, preferably vintage, and customized in some way...unless you can afford to buy Jeffery Campbell's or the beautiful studded boots I saw at Kitson a few weeks ago..unfortunately I don't have $300. 

Flag Me a Gypsy

So I have lately developed a fondness for flags. I don't know if this kind has any particular name, however they seem to be common among my fellow UK bloggers. I haven't seen them anywhere in the US besides car dealerships...and Urban Outfitters. Which carries all things indie of course. I would like to however make my own perhaps from scarves or scraps..put a new twist on all the "gypsy tapestries" everyone makes fun of me for hanging in my room.

Hello Everyone!

Which as of now is no one..
Anyway this is obviously my first post on my "real blog", this is probably the 5th one I've made, they never seem to last. However lately I have been wanting to post too many text posts on my tumblr account, which I am rather picky about messing up the "flow" of the photo posts, so I made this one. As of now I am not sure what all I will be posting on this blog, most likely a mixture of personal, inspiration, and fashion posts..I also do a bit of writing which I may post occasionally as well as my thoughts on particular subjects..Whatever it may be thank you for taking the time to visit my blog!

- GraceMarie