Brideshead Revisited. . . revisited

I know an Evelyn Waugh novel isn't exactly light, summer reading, but Brideshead Revisited is going on my July reading list.

The soon-to-be-released Brideshead Revisited film is the reason why I'm brushing up on my Waugh. Those of you who grew up like Lauren and me, with a healthy dose of Masterpiece Theater each month, have probably already seen at least part of the 1981 Brideshead mini-series. We've seen all 11 episodes (that's 659 minutes), so you can only imagine how excited (and relieved) I am that BBC has made it into a (100 minute-long) film. The fact that Emma Thompson is in it is just icing on the cake.

Below are a couple of comparison photos of the two versions (2008 images on the left, 1981 images on the right).



Charles Ryder and Sebastian Flyte lounging around Oxford University.


Sebastian in all his aristocratic-ness.


A day of boating. Champagne? Check. Teddy Bear? Check.


Charles in Morocco searching for Sebastian.


Charles, Julia and Sebastian on the grounds of Brideshead.


I can't wait to study all the costumes in the film. There are a few images on imdb.com that show some of the clothing, but not much. I couldn't find a website for the film, but hopefully more photos will pop up online closer to the release date.


Images courtesy of www.imdb.com, http://www.abbotshill.freeserve.co.uk/StoryContents.htm, http://mrsblandings.blogspot.com/2008/02/brideshead-revisited.html

CL

Outside of Taqueria

Taqueria del Sol is the best place in Decatur to get a margarita and delicious yet cheap tacos, enchiladas and spicy turnip greens (mexico meets the south). It is one of my most favorite places in the whole wide world. Did I mention the margaritas? Cath and I were there 3 times last week.

Cath (top): vest, rogan for target; skirt, AA; shoes, tarjay; purse, UO; sunglasses, vintage.
Lar: shirt, UO; skirt, express (circa 1998); shoes, newport news; bangle, ann finley jewelry; glasses, chanel.



ps- A quick note for those of you concerned about this photo. This is the artist's (Tim Walker) statement about this photograph when interviewed by the Guardian:
A lot of people get confused when they see this image. They think it was done by computer, but we actually took pigment powder, mixed it with talc to get the right ice-cream pastel colours, and brushed it into the cats.

The owners were two proud members of the Persian cat club. I can't remember how I found them, but they turned up in a van, covered in cat fur, and stood breathing down my neck as I took the picture. We were worried about putting all that powder into the animals' fur, but they said: "Oh no, they absolutely love it." The cats were such vain creatures - they adored being touched and pampered.

We didn't really think about which cats, or how many, should be done in which colours. We just did each one, and then they had to go back into their cat beds in the owners' van. I think I lost count of how many were pink and how many were blue, but when we were finished they all came out and looked great together. There wasn't enough light to do the picture indoors - but, by a fluke, all the cats seemed to gravitate to this clematis at the bottom of some steps. I didn't arrange them. This is just what the cats did, and they all pretty much stayed where they were throughout. So it's actually quite a naturalistic portrait - apart from the colour.

At the time, in May 1998, I had no idea how the picture would resonate with people. But it has been the image I've been asked about the most. For some reason, people are just fascinated with it - more than any model, house or celebrity I've ever shot. Everyone wants to know about the pastel cats.
Cath and I grew up with cats and would not have used this photo if these animals had been harmed in any way. These pastel Persians reminded me of our kitty who passed away in October, whom we loved very much: the grumpy, dignified faces are a perfect portrait of the breed.

LL

Happy Friday!

It's been a bumpy week for us AsianCajuns so we thought we would start the weekend with a little whimsy.

We hope you all have a lovely, sunny weekend! Our plans? Ideally, recuperating with big vats of cafe au lait in the morning, lazy afternoons reading in the sun, and evenings spent with friends.
And you?

photos courtesy of Anthroplogie and Tim Walker (one of my most favorite fashion photographers).

LL

The Minnetonka Hat

First it was the tall, black lace-ups and then the short brown fringy boots... it is now the Minnetonka Buffalo Nickel Hat. This is the first thing I've lusted after in a magazine editorial that I've actually been able to afford (a mere $45 including shipping!) and I am in lurve! I really like the entire Mary-Kate cover story for Elle, but I figured I probably couldn't afford or pull off the white, square Luella sunglasses. That's alright, I'm much too enamored with this buffalo hat
to give a damn.
LL

I.C.E. and Globe

After having such a great time at last year's Indie Craft Experience (I.C.E.), we knew we couldn't pass it up this year. The 7th Annual I.C.E. took place a few weekends ago and its shameful that I'm just getting around to posting about it now because it was bigger and better than ever. There were over 100 tents (click here for a list and links of all the vendors), workshops, a craft library and live music.

The only drawback was the heat. Lauren and I got so hot we ran out of steam and didn't take too many pictures.


Cute stuffed octopus by fattycakes and the lovely hats by humblebumbleb.

Of course the heat didn't slow down our shopping! My great purchase of the day was this lovely "fascinator" hat (held in place by two hair pins) made by Brenda of Humblebumbleb. I love the feathers and retro feel of it, but the best part is that it was less than $20! I'm considering it the deal of the century. $12 for a well-made, handcrafted, fabulous hat. Are you jealous? No need to be - you can purchase a similar one from the Humblebumble website.

I took the images below right after I bought the hat, so my hair isn't styled for it. I'll probably sweep my bangs to one side and pull my hair back when I wear it for real.



After I.C.E. we hopped back on MARTA and stopped by The Globe restaurant in midtown for lunch.


We love the decor at The Globe. It has a sleek, modern look with its white walls and Eames chairs, but it also has a cozy feel to it with a huge back wall of books and a lounge area filled with coffee tables and couches. And our sandwiches were delicious!



CL

Thao and the Get Down Stay Down

We've been fans of Thao for a while now. Her songs make me unaccountable happy whenever I hear them. And guess what we get to do tonight?! Yep! See Thao and her fantastic band at the Earl!
Apart from her unique/genius lyrics and beat, we love Thao (et. al) because she seems like the most laid back, down-to-earth creative person we (don't really) know. She doesn't seem to wear make-up and always looks completely comfortable in her own skin.
If you are Thao newbies, do check out her video below. You'll feel giddy and be smitten just like us:



ps- And for you fashionistas out there, don't you just love her laid-back style?





Photos courtesy of: lostateminor.com, radio.utdallas.edu, cableandtweed.blogspot.com, songoftheday.blogspot.com, sixeyes.com

LL

Friends of Mario

Last Friday Cath and I had an awesome time with the hawtest (mustached) guy (who wears overalls)-- Mario! Yes! Nintendo Mario. Well, not just Mario, some gorgeous friends, bubbly prosecco, and mini-pecan pies.
Okay. So what doesn't seem to belong?
You got it. The Nintendo bit.

Those that know Cath and I well know that we are ignorant about video games (we grew up without brothers and very artsy-- read, not techie--- parents). In fact, we derisively smile and roll our eyes when our boyfriends mention the words "computer" or "video" and "game" in one sentence. Well, the joke (or derisive eye roll) is on us!

Our fellow fashionista blogger and lovely friend Ashley (of Hiking in Stilettos) invited us to a Girls Night by Nintendo. Essentially Nintendo is trying to reach out to us (the ladies), and I have to say before Friday I was very skeptical. Just because you make something pink and have Liv Tyler in your ad campaign doesn't mean you get this demographic.

Well, 4 glasses of free prosecco, 3 hours of playing Brain Age and Guitar Hero, and receiving a free Nintendo DS and cute charm bracelet... well, I was sold. They had it down! Helpful Nintendo girls in Audrey-like LBDs taught us how to play different games available for the DS and gave us additional charms on our bracelets once we... errr... aced each game (my Brain Age is 65, but I can totally get behind Mariokart!).



Our lovely ladies (recognize them from this?) and us breaking from a Guitar Hero to pose.



Our Nintendo charm bracelets (something I'm surprisingly gleeful about owning). Who can spot my June Shin ring?



Our outfit pic (sans Mario) taken by the gorgeous Becca and Ashley (really, go check out Ashley's blog!)
Lar (L): handband and tank by AA, old Gap cutoffs, shoes by Nine West, ring by June Shin
Cath (R): dress by AA, shoes by Vera Wang for Kohls


Now that my awesome bf bought me my very own MarioKart, I'm totally hooked! Do you guys play or are you secretly cringing inside (something I would have done had I not been plied by freebies and effervescent drinks)?

Mario backgrounds courtesy of files_nintendo.com and dan_dare.com.

LL

Indie Surf at Vacation*

Vacation* is a new thrift store that opened up right down the street from the new Urban Outfitters in Midtown/Highlands (Atlanta), and although this sounds slightly sacrilegious and hypocritical, I'd say skip UO and just stop by Vacation. It's cheaper and you won't see 50 other hipsters wearing the scarf you just bought.

Also it embodies this style that I'm gonna call Indie Surf. I'm not sure if others have called it that already and I'm just mooching (Google only produced some excellent music blogs, but nothing on fashion or style). I'll define it as a mix of indie, grunge, ethnic boho and beachy neon, embraced by bands like MGMT and embodied by indie kids who are tired of wearing just black and gray.



Even though I feel like I'm on the edge of too-old to be dressing like this daily, I'd like to attempt it on weekends. For those of you not in the Atlanta area or without a wallet full of cash (Vacation sadly does not yet have a credit card machine), I'm researching online indie surf attire options. Stay tuned...



LL

* We had been mistakingly called this store 'Have Love Will Travel,' which I thought was a mouthful but very poetic and appropriate, but, you know, 'Vacation' hits the spot too. Thanks for the tip, anon.

That Jacket

Rolling Stone Magazine

Who else is utterly and completely in love with this jacket? Is it wrong to buy Rolling Stone just for the fashion on the cover? Get the latest edition and drool with me, fellow fashionistas! 

LL

The Moment We've Been Waiting For...

That's right. H&M is officially opening in Atlanta tomorrow, Friday, June 13 at noon.
The first 300 in line will get a free H&M t-shirt and a gift card valued anywhere between $10 and $300. For more information about the grand opening, visit the Atlantic Station website here.

I'd love to make a day of it and hang out in line with all the eager shoppers early tomorrow morning, but I'll be at work - damn! I did toy with the idea of using one of my vacation days to take off for the opening, but a free t-shirt and gift card aren't much incentive - especially when it means dealing with the crowds.

Lauren and I will make it over to H&M sometime soon and give you all the lowdown (i.e. is it as good as the downtown H&Ms in Philly & D.C. or watered down for preppy southern tastes?). Stay tuned...

Blogger edit: Elizabeth Westby of Atlanta Magazine's About Town blog did a great post on the Atlantic Station H&M preview party.

Inspired by Serpico

When Lauren and I started this blog just about over a year ago, I never thought I'd be blogging about the great style of a 1970s cop movie. This past weekend we decided to rent Serpico after watching the "Making a Mess All Over the City" episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.



I'm so glad we rented it. In the film Frank Serpico (played by Al Pacino) has the best wardrobe. I can't believe I've never heard anyone reference this film for its fashion - it just blows me away. I mean, Serpico has more costume changes than Carrie Bradshaw!



Serpico's look is that of a 1960s laid-back, hippie New Yorker wearing long silver chains, beaded necklaces, aviators, leather vests, light cotton shirts, multiple rings on each hand, and wide-leg pants. The best (and most suprising) part is that Al Pacino totally rocks this look. I'm not much of a Pacino fan, but I have to admit that he looks great throughout the whole film - even when he's wearing a giant brown cape and hat (see top right picture above).



I love how the clothes look like real clothes and not costumes. Every item looks worn and nothing fits perfectly.



Frank Serpico wears a number of fantastic hats throughout the film. My favorite is the white bucket hat.









Even Serpico's apartment in the film is amazing. It looks like something Domino magazine would use for inspiration with its white-washed walls, non-matchy furniture, stacks of books, open shelves, and an abundance of plants.



For those of you who haven't seen this film, go rent it now! Even non-fashionistas will appreciate the great acting and scenery (filmed in over 100 locations around NYC).

CL

Some Outfit Shots

Happy Friday, Everyone! Hope you all have exciting or gloriously relaxing plans.

Here are some outfit pics from last weekend. Some of these are slight repeats from the previous post, but this time we'll let you know where everything is from.







Top: (Lar), dress: LVL X (2 years ago), sunnies: UO, earrings: Dolores Fawkes, sash/scarf: H&M, shoes: Nine West
Middle: (Cath), dress: Gap, necklace: vintage, shoes: Payless
Bottom: (Cath), shirt: Alternative (Rockit), belt: vintage, jeans: Cheap Mondays, purse: UO, shoes: vintage

LL

Brunch and Young Blood Gallery

A perfect leisurely Sunday morning/afternoon spent with Cath and the dreamy bfriend eating delicious, smothered gravy and biscuits and then checking out Young Blood's new space.









LL

ROCKIT in Decatur

We had a great Saturday night enjoying live music on the square (with lots of wine and delicious food) and the ROCKIT boutique opening (with lots of wine and delicious food).

ROCKIT owners Mike (in the red shirt below) and J. (wearing the black vest below right) are some of the nicest guys in Decatur. Shopgirl Amelia (looking incredibly stylish in all white) told us that she reads our blog - yay!


The store has a great selection of clothes and accessories that won't break the bank. Lauren and I each got a pair of sunglasses for $10 and I snatched up a blue Alternative Apparel burnout tee.






CL