MANGO: Penélope Cruz

I love Penélope. She's such a devoted artist in so many ways. The girl can act! I've never seen a more relatable tantrum thrown then the several ones thrown in Vicky Crisina Barcelona. She nailed the Spanish temper. She nailed my temper! No matter who is on the screen with Penélope , they stand no chance of out shining her. Scarlet Jo. is obviously the more obvious beauty, but when put together in the same scene...there was no comparison. There's nothing risky about her face. Besides celebrating her unique beauty, I have to write about her clothing line: MANGO which she co-owns with her sister Monica. (The two look so similar!) I first started shopping at MANGO about two years ago. The jeans are what convinced me. They fit like a glove. Finally somebody to understand my body, my frame...my attitude! The colors are vibrant, the beauty of the clothes is effortless and there is an underlying toughness for every ounce of femininity. That's the way I like an outfit.

THIS is Monica! Or Penélope #2

http://www.mango.com/

No more H8!

I am no stranger to voicing my opinions. I try my best to give equal opportunity for an opposing side to tell me off but the problem is... THAT NEVER HAPPENS. I don't understand how anyone anywhere could ever be opposed to the practice of a union founded in love. Are there really still people making rules based on what they feel is religiously moral? News flash, not everyone has a religion. It's time to be POLITICALLY MORAL. Do we as a nation go around saying "I can have brown hair but YOU can't." or "I can breathe this air but YOU can't." How about my favorite, "Jesus loves ME but he doesn't love YOU." It's as idiotic as it sounds.

I'm straight, but I can still fight for something that effects my fellow citizens and friends. We have a responsibility as humans to protect one another, to empathize and stand by those who are being oppressed and help break the chains of injustice. That's all I'm doing. Somewhere along the line we shut out reality and started twisting the constitution, creating loop holes. "Liberty and justice for ALL." Remeber that concept? As far as I'm concerned, congress should pay more attention to homicidal death rates and drug abuse rather than using their energy fighting to ban gay marriage. This is in every way a segregation. There's no "but's" about it. You are denying someone a human right. And of all things, you deny your fellow citizens the right to show a public display of LOVE.

Then there's this whole religious issue. The bible says God intended for man and woman to come together and be one. If everyone slept with people of the same gender, eventually the human race would die off. Here's a thought... NOT EVERYONE IS GAY. So, chill out. Also, the bible says alot of things that no one should be believing or practicing like "He (Adam) shall have rule over you (Eve)" Men ruling over women? Still acceptable? I don't think so...

I have much more to say... I hear the opposing voices and guess what, you're not convincing me. Why should a gay couple be denied GOD'S blessing over them? There is no reason: In recent years, the catholic church has finally come to the realization that "okay okay, maybe it's not a sin to be gay. Maybe people really cannot help it." BUT along with that step forward comes one step back. They imply that it's okay to be gay as long as you don't act on what you desire. If a public display of love is what they desire and hope for, than let them have it. God is all loving right? And he wants us to treat others as we would like to be treated right?

Then why is this STILL an issue? Right and wrong, good and bad... AS LONG AS THERE IS LOVE IN THE WORLD AND PEOPLE PASSIONATE ENOUGH TO WANT TO DISPLAY IT, HUMANITY IS STILL HUMANE.

Isn't she lovely...

My favorite "It girl" of this generation is without a doubt the incomperable Miss. Natalie Portman. When I was fifteen years old I watched Garden State for the first time. She had this way about her...even when she was playing someone extremely down to earth and somewhat fashionably challenged. Whatever the role, her inner radiance always comes through. Besides being a talented actress, and cementing her name as a pre-teen in The Professional (Which by the way, is the best performance I've seen from a twelve year old) no one can deny the fierce beauty that is and always will be Natalie. What sets her apart from others who some may argue are just as beautiful? Here's the difference: She is effortless. The clothes, the makeup, the hair...they never wear her. You see the person before you see what she is wearing. She doesn't have to try to be beautiful, she just is.

The thing I love most about her is her humbleness. She doesn't feel entitled to twenty minutes on the red carpet posing like some statue. Her confidence is a quiet one. In her normal everyday life, she is often seen wearing outfits over and over again...simple things that don't scream celebrity. On the other hand, however, you can tell she appreciates the fashion industry. When she was young, probably around nineteen, she became somewhat of a muse for Isaac Mizrahi. Then she caught the eye of a then up and coming designer, Zac Posen who officially dubbed her as his muse. He dresses her very well. I like the risks she takes... and the fact that she's small and short statured. She is often compared to Audrey Hepburn, which makes alot of sense because Audrey is my ultimate idol. She was even lucky enough to wear the dress Audrey wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's for a Harper's Bazaar cover shoot. She brought the dress back to life, she made known the essence of that dress which only Audrey could have ever produced. In the years to come, I think Natalie will continue picking roles she finds interesting and out of the ordinary. She will continue to support the arts, all the while being herself. She's smart (a HARVARD grad), adorable, talented, humble, sweet, gorgeous and let's not forget her work with FINCA and other charities. She is truley beautiful from the inside out... as cliche as that sounds. The "It girls" of today have nothing on Nat. They think about how beautiful they are...They know it...They observe their looks and offer up a fake modesty. Loveliness is Natalie.

Who can pull off a pair of converse at a Marc Jacobs show? Only Nat.

With Zac Posen (my favorite designer) They would make a cute couple, but he'll make a man very happy one day. Story of my life!

She definatley has a tendency to go hippie trippy for more casual affairs, love it.

Love her in purple.

Even when she was bald she was stunning.

How much do I love this boy...

I cannot believe that I havn't written anything about Mika yet. He's my muse, my ultimate muse! In 2007 I discovered his music, and the rest is history. Now, two years later I am still absolutley in love with everything about him. He's a physical embodiment of a dream come true. There's really no way to duplicate such talent, such unique style. His identity is all his own, and I cannot wait for his next album to come out in the fall. It's going to be epic!

Like it was yesterday, June 11th 2007...

mikasounds.com

Vintage Mika...wow, never thought I'd say that!

An Appetite For Destruction...

Let me start by justifying what really does not need to be justified. I have an obsession with Guns N' Roses. It's not a subtle one either. The fact of the matter is, whenever something...anything intrigues me, it becomes me. It wasn't the disturbingly poetic lyrics, or even just the music itself. It was more a feeling of "This is how Rock N' Roll was meant to be." I write this today because on my way to class this morning a rare blast of confetti exploded from my ipod. Okay maybe not rare, but still...on a day like today, when I really needed that confetti...it's presence was much appreciated. Sweet Child O' Mine... That song never fails me. The result, pure bliss walking down S. Michigan Ave. I must admit, I feel that loving Guns the way that I do doesn't really fit in with how music is progressing. It will never be like it was in 1987 or even 1992. Things have evolved, and here and there I find bands that are completley wonderful, completley unique. But none will ever have what Guns did. Those guys didn't need fireworks or props...They didn't need to be strung up on cables, lowered down from the rafters. All they really needed was the dynamic they created just by walking out on stage.

There was Steven, the fun loving, smiling drug addict (though they were all addicted at some point) There was Izzy, the slightly mysterious guitarist. There was Duff, the blonde bass player with the stoned eyes.

Last but not least come the two members that I believe were the pillars of the band. Slash, with his exotic moodiness and perminent cigarette dangling between his lips (a side note to his trademark fixture, a top hat.) And then of course, Axl. Axl Rose, I consider to be one of the best frontmen of all time. He created the art on the stage with the way he moved, the way he threw a tantrum, the way he dressed. Let's talk about the way he dressed. I loved his style, absolutley loved it. No one could ever and will ever rock a bandana the way that Axl used to. No one could ever wear leather pants, cowboy boots and flannel and produce that same effect. There was power in Axl alone...He was (and still is to some degree) a genius. Obviously, the original members of Guns have parted ways. It's been that way for over a decade. But let me say this: If they ever (EVER) decided to reunite every single one of the originals, I would be the happiest groupie on the earth. Will they still have it? I think so... From what I know (and I know alot about this) when all five members first played together in the Mid 1980's (When they were writing their lyrics on pizza boxes) there was a unanimous feeling of perfection. I think that feeling can and will be produced again...But not by any of today's goth punky types. (Just saying!)

Little Ashes

Last night I saw the movie 'Little Ashes' at the Landmark. It may not be a surprise to anyone, but let's be honest and say that I went to see Robert Pattinson. I was not at all expecting him to be very good in the role of Salvador Dali. But I thought it was bold and very brave of him to take on the part. Thus, I wanted to somehow cheer him on. He totally surprised me! Dali is not just a character, because no such fictional person (I am convinced) could ever exist. He was probably the strangest, most eccentric artist to ever live. I felt that Pattinson did extremely well. He's really showing alot of range with the films he has been choosing, and I know he will continue to climb...climb to a place where very few actors go. I think for sure he can conquer any character now. I will also say that I think in the years to come he has the potential to become the next Johnny Depp. Though Johnny will forever be the only Johnny and no one can replace him, I think Pattinson can be as good as he is one day.

Another impressive character in the film was Federico Garcia Lorca, a poet who loved Dali but was executed for being outwardly gay. The actor who played him, Javier Beltran, was brilliant. He convinced me of his troubled poetic soul. He convinced me of his love for Dali.

An adorable scene from the movie

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7BlNbL9eFQ