Cary Grant

As unemployment has driven me to watch lots of classic films (thank you, free public library!), today’s hottie is a vintage one – the one, the only Cary Grant (1904-86).

One of Hollywood’s most famous and popular leading men, Grant is known for such great films as Bringing up Baby (1938), The Philadelphia Story (1940), North by Northwest (1959) and Charade (1963) among many others, the latter co-starring former Vili Flik hottie Audrey Hepburn.

Despite being one of the most iconic Hollywood stars, Grant was in fact English (why do all the hottest Americans turn out not to be American at all..?), and his given name was not Cary Grant, but Archibald Alexander Leach. Admittedly, I can see why he might consider changing that. Doesn’t really have the same ring to it as his shorter and more snappy stage name (a name which, incidentally, was chosen partly because the initials had proved successful before – for Clark Gable and Gary Cooper).

Charming, funny, handsome and talented, it’s no wonder Grant made a splash in Hollywood, working as a leading man well into his late fifties. However, after being the romantic interest of Audrey Hepburn, 25 years his junior, in Charade, he apparently started to find the whole thing embarrassing – feeling too old to be cast opposite increasingly younger women. Soon thereafter he retired, making 1966’s Walk, Don’t Run his last appearance on the silver screen.

 

 

 

 

Love, Mari

Book Covers

One thing that fascinates me about trends is that they seem to incorporate every aspect of our (esthetic) existence. Not only are our clothes, hairstyles or curtains dictated by trends, but everything from toothbrushes to cars are made to appeal to current esthetic tastes. This goes for book covers too, so today we shall have a look at some lovely vintage books. Enjoy!

Love, Elin

Christian Lacroix

I hope you’re ready for a picture filled post, because the wonderful French fashion designer Christian Lacroix (1951 – may he live forever) has just so many pretty clothes that I’m having a hard time not posting every photo I can possible find. Whoever said less is more obviously hasn’t met one of  Christian Lacroix’s collections.

Lacroix actually studied art history and wanted to become a museum curator. However, that dream didn’t come true (huzzah!), so instead a friend helped him get a job at Hermès (which reminds me: look for new friends).

The same friend also helped him launch his own couture house in 1987, and Lacroix has, since then, put out magnificent collections inspired by different cultures and decades.

Ah, colorful extravaganza – does it get better? I think not. However, some critics claim that Lacroix does not understand what kind of clothes the working woman needs. Stupid. Of course he does – how much more fun isn’t it to go to work all dressed up and feeling great? You can never be overdressed or overeducated darling, and to claim otherwise is just, well, it’s barbaric, is what it is.

Let’s steal from wikipedia again: “Lacroix soon made headlines with his opulent, fantasy creations, including the short puffball skirt (“le pouf”), rose prints, and low décolleté necklines. He quoted widely from other styles—from fashion history (the corset and the crinoline), from folklore, and from many parts of the world—and he mixed his quotations in a topsy-turvy manner. He favored the hot colors of the Mediterranean, region, a hodgepodge of patterns, and experimental fabrics, sometimes handwoven in local workshops.”

Seriously, I wish I could marry these clothes.

What’s actually completely incomprehensible to me, though, is that throughout the history of the Christian Lacroix couture house, it never turned profit, and his last haute couture showing, in 2009, Lacroix financed himself, paying the models 50 euros each. Crazy right?

However, this is a story with a happy ending. Not ending, happy turn. Or something like that. Because this very year, Lacroix is back in the game collaborating with a Spanish clothing brand called Desigual. I’ve never heard of that, but believe you me, I shall check it out!

Love, Hanna

Shadows Over Baker Street

I must admit that I have had few dealings with Sherlock Holmes, one of the world’s most famous detectives, being one who favors the supernatural to the rational. However, a friend of mine kindly provided me with a short story-collection called Shadows Over Baker Street, in which Arthur Conan Doyle’s familiar characters have been thrown into the dark, surreal and sinister world of H. P. Lovecraft.

To place a logic-freak like Holmes in a Lovecraftian environment makes for a quite interesting read, and I highly recommend this book to both Doyle-fans and Lovecraft-fans, and everyone else for that matter. And the collection includes short stories by such authors as Neil Gaiman and Poppy Z. Brite.

Elementary!    

Splash of Greatness

Dress: Rustic Design, by Annette of course

The Sartorialist

I think it’s been about four years since I stumbled across a wonderful blog called The Sartorialist, and since then I’ve checked it out almost every time I’ve been online. It is glorious, and Scott Schuman, the sartorialist, has been and is a great inspiration for all three of us at Vili Flik.

What he does? Basically he takes pictures. Since September 2005, Schuman has been taking photos of fabulously dressed people on the street and posted these on his blog. He blogs so many different people with so many different styles – it’s simply marvellous.

Visit his blog and snoop around in the archives – so much goodies! It’s a great thing to do when you’re supposed to be working or studying, let me tell you.

Love, Hanna

(Another) Disclaimer (or, possibly, just an anecdote)

So, Hanna and myself were innocently walking the streets of Trondheim the other day, when a man came running after us. This being election time in Norway, we naturally assumed that he was going to try and talk us into voting for some party or other, but lo and behold, he wanted us to model. Oh yeah. And not in a sleazy way either.

Turned out that Mercur, a local shopping centre, was shooting a commercial in the street. They had advertised for models, but apparently attendance was low (or, more likely, visually disappointing. So much beige!). We, being our usual colourful and stylish selves, caught the guy’s eye, and were subsequently headhunted to pose in our fabulous outfits.

What were we wearing, you ask? Well, Hanna looked green and gorgeous in her own design:

while yours truly wore a colourful and snazzy vintage dress:

If you’re in Trondheim, look out for these lovely ladies in a cinema near you, as the advertisement is to be shown in theatres this autumn and winter (or possibly later..).

Love, Mari the model

Soulless

“I believe the defining moment was when certain persons, who shall remain nameless, objected to my fuchsia silk striped waistcoat. I loved that waistcoat. I put my foot down, right then and there; I do not mind telling you!” To punctuate his deeply offended feelings, he stamped one silver-and-pearl-decorated high heel firmly. “No one tells me what I can and cannot wear!” He snapped up a lace fan from where it lay on a hall table and fanned himself vigorously with it for emphasis.

At the time being, all three of us Vili Flik girls are reading the same series, The Parasol Protectorate, by Gail Carriger. This is all Elin’s doing of course. She started and then the rest of us followed, desperately wanting to be like her (and you can’t blame us, can you?). And it is quite entertaining – sort of steampunk Jane Austen meets Wodehouse. There’s sarcasm, there’s food and there’s brilliant clothes – seriously, what more could you wish for in a novel (or in life for that matter) ?

Soulless  (2009) is the first book in the series and I promise you will be entertained – have a look at this:

“Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she’s a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire — and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London’s high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.”

Enjoy your weekend and your reading!

Love, Hanna

Michael Kors

Hello dear Flik’ers! To some of you, Michael Kors (1959 – ) may first and vanmost be associated with watches. However, this excellent American designer has so much more to offer, so prepare to feast your eyes on some beauties.

Mr. Kors began designing clothes when he was 19, and went on to study fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. It’s been thirty years since he launched his first stupendous collection, and I personally hope for at least thirty more!

From 1997 to 2003, Kors was also the creative director for French fashion house Celine.

According to the Michael Kors official website, their mission is to: “bring our vision of a jet-set, luxury lifestyle to women and men around the globe. Our products, emblematic of the highest standard of quality, include apparel, accessories and beauty. Our lifestyle-driven company embraces the highest standards of creativity, quality, technology and human resources.”

Love, Hanna

Yves Saint Laurent

No, I’m not mixing up days, giving you a second dose of fashion this week. Nor am I unaware that Yves Saint Laurent (1936-2008) has already been given a post of his own at Vili Flik. That’s why I’m not going tell you lots of stuff about him – if you need to freshen up on the artistic smash that was Saint Laurent, read this. That also explains why he is a well-deserved Vili Flik Hottie.

Today I simply want to show you some brilliant photos of him.

 

A well-deserved Hottie indeed.

Love, Hanna