R.I.P. Alexander McQueen (1969-2010) - The Pink Sheep of Fashion Has Passed Away

First of all, I want to tell you that I am deeply sorry that this post has to be about something so devastating. I am still in shock and a part of me refuses to believe it, but it seems that the news reports are true.

The entire Fashion World is now wearing the weeds. Lee McQueen, l'enfant terrible of British fashion, as well as founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen brand has passed away this morning.

All my thoughts are with his family and friends, who must be stunned by this tragic loss. 

You shall never be forgotten, Mr. McQueen!

‘Animal Farm’ – A story of corrupted power

‘No question now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.’

If you read ‘Animal Farm’, by George Orwell, you will understand the profound meaning of these words, which can be a warning for all of us. The book can be considered just a fable, a fairytale if you want, but it has a very symbolic meaning, because it follows the things that led to a distorted form of communism. But what better words to describe the theme than the author‘s himself: ‘(...) it is the history of a revolution that went wrong’.
‘Animal Farm’ tells the story of some animals which feel that they are abused by the farmer Mr. Jones and decide to take over the running of their master’s farm. Everything goes according to the plan until the pigs, considered the brightest animals, get out of hand and start changing the commandments. The short-novel ends with the animals being in the same despotic ruling from the beginning, only that this time the power is in the ‘hands’ of the pigs.
Although the writing is simple and may seem unobstrusive, the mastery of Orwell lies in his capacity of presenting all the horrors of communism through satire and by conceiving a book that can be understood by both children and adults (in different ways, of course).
In ‘Animal Farm’, George Orwell describes how power has turned the pigs from simple animals to ruthless dictators who managed to walk on two legs and carry whips. Even though the book’s strong political message is based on the Russian Revolution, you don’t need to be a genius to understand who the pig leader Napoleon was.
A thing that should attract your attention how the ‘animals’ can be brainwashed, how the pigs can make them do and believe anything. Like in the present, the commandments can be rewritten without the animals even realizing it, because they haven’t paid so much attention to them.
And as much as I would like to believe that this story is just about communism, I can’t ignore all the similarities to the ‘magnificent’ democracy, which has proved to be worse than communism itself. At least then, the ‘pigs’ had the courage to say the truth in your face. Now, all they do is keeping us down for ‘our own good’.
So, as a conclusion, I heartily recommend you this book that is so brilliantly written, yet so accessible to all kinds of people, and which will definitely open your eyes on the society we live in.

'Vol de Jour' by Karl Lagerfeld

         2010 is getting closer and closer. I know it, you know it, Karl knows it. The difference is that his way of showing it is an extravagant one.

         While we were buying champagne and firecrackers, Karl jumped behind the camera again and shot the amazing pre-spring/summer collection for Chanel.

         Starring models Lara Stone and Baptiste Giabiconi (Karl's muse, the very one who posed with only a Chanel blazer and high-heeled shoes), the short movie showcases Chanel clothes, as well as a Chanel motorbike.

         I hope you'll enjoy both the movie and the New Year! May all your wishes come true! And remember: Karl is watching, you demode ones!

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas!

I worked a while for this, so I hope you'll enjoy it!

Craciun Fericit!
Merry Christmas!
Joyeux Noël!

Frohe Weihnachten!

Yummy in my Tummy! - The Chanel Limited Edition

Bonjour, mes bons amis!/Hallo, liebe Freunde!

Look what I found this morning, in my daily 'haunting for Chanel/Karl stuff'. They created The Chanel Popcorn! Ok, maybe just the Chanel Popcorn bags, but don't you get the idea? Popcorn has officially become FASHIONABLE! Karl is thumbs up on eating it. So eat as much popcorn as you can this year, because next year it will be extremely out-of-date. 

P.S.: I wonder if it's fat-free too.

The Godfather (1972) Review

"I spent my whole life trying not to be careless. Women and children can be careless. But not men."

That’s just one terrific quote you will hear if you see Coppola’s masterpiece, ‘The Godfather’. It is said that nothing can be flawless, but this movie certainly comes close to perfection.
‘The Godfather’, based on the novel with the same name, by Mario Puzzo is more than a simple gangster movie. It’s a classic built of diverse, yet connected stories, which all lead to the magnificent whole, the definite conclusion.
To put it simply, the movie is centered on Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather, head of the mafia family in America. The family is drawn into a war after the Don refuses to take part in the drug businesses. After he is shot and Sonny, his eldest son is killed, the control of the family passes to Michael. Michael is Don Vito’s youngest son, who wants nothing to do with the family business and aspires to become a powerful man through politics. But his destiny is to be the next Godfather.
Along the movie, we can see that Don Vito (played by Marlon Brando) is a very complicated gangster. He believes he is not a killer and puts his family above everything, saying that ‘A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man’. His sympathy for his son Michael is unspoken, yet well-know.
Although Don Vito is the leading character, the one with the most screen time is Michael, played by the brilliant Al Pacino. One of the most impressive things in the movie is to observe Michael’s transformation from an ‘innocent’ to the central manipulator; to see how the one who claimed to be different from the rest of the family becomes even more ruthless than his father.
Another thing that caught my attention is the manner in which the director, Francis Coppola starts and finishes the movie. It all begins with the scene of the wedding, the moment when we all start a ‘family’, and it ends with a baptism, where Michael becomes ‘The Godfather’ and officially replaces his father.
The movie has won three well-deserved Oscars, along with several other awards for acting, directing and music. The acting is superb, with very deep characters played by Marlon Brando, who has attained the status of a legend with his well-known quote: ‘I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse’, James Caan or Diane Keaton. We mustn’t forget about Al Pacino, who, although this wasn’t his most demonstrative performance, has made a wonderful job as Michael Corleone.
All in all, I believe this is one movie which will never get old, and I definitely recommend you to see it. ‘Thank you, Godfather.’

‘Veronika Decides to Die’ – Surrender, Insanity or Love?

‘The girl was playing the music with such soul because she knew she was going to die. And am I not going to die? Where is my soul that I might play the music of my own life with such enthusiasm?’

This is a though question, but a good one indeed. It’s asked by a girl. A simple girl. Just like me. Just like you. Just like everyone in here. Her name is Veronika, she’s 24 years old, she lives in Slovenia and is the protagonist of the book ‘Veronika decides to die’. Our Veronika thinks that she has lived her life and that continuing it will only lead her into misery. That’s why one day she decides to die (hence the title) and chooses the clean way – an overdose of sleeping pills. A failed attempt lands her in Villete, a psychic ward, where she finds out she only has 5 more days to live. That’s when the heroin’s inner debates start. She thinks how she never did something out of place, never got mad, never lived in the heat of the moment! She just surrendered to the society’s perceptions and did whatever seemed the right thing to do. While in Villete, Veronika begins to question the idea of madness and gets to the conclusion that actions which may appear insane to someone can be completely justified to someone else. She then meets some people, among who is Edward, a schizophrenic whom she falls in love with. Veronika quickly learns that love is the biggest risk that humans take and that life is worth living. She is eager to live those last days of her life as if they were a miracle. The girl starts playing the piano, she ‘voices’ her frustrations, her anger and hurt, but also her love and most intimate desires, that were stuck insider her for 24 years, because she was ‘sane’ then.
In her fourth day at the psychic ward, the couple decides that it’s better for them to escape, to live their last day together. But what will be the surprise that stands by the corner? And has Veronika really learned her lesson? Between surrender, love and insanity, what do you think will best define her life, before and after those 5 days?