although it is one of this era’s most hackneyed words, i try to avoid “chic” as much as i possibly can because i am not even completely aware of its modern sense. its literal meaning is easy enough to grasp, but i don’t want to use it simply to get with the fad lest i misuse the darn word (like the phrase “in fairness”; more than half the people who dispense that daily aren’t even using it in the proper context).
at any rate (hey, there’s another over-used phrase!), i went on over to good old merriam-webster to get its operational definition.
chic, noun, 1: smart elegance or sophistication especially of dress or manner, 2: a distinctive mode of dress or manner associated with a fashionable lifestyle, ideology or pursuit, 3: a faddishly popular quality or appeal.
chic, adjective, 1: cleverly stylish, 2: currently fashionable.
in a bizarre development of fashion literature, usage of the word “chic” has embodied its very own definition. it’s almost like putting a mirror to another mirror and witnessing the infinite reflection. or something.
however, knowing its definition is only half the story. now we have to contend with its application. as you may already know, the word “chic” these days has a widespread reputation as an affix to other words that denote a particular style. below are some of the more notable partnerships.
of course, the idea is to look stylish and elegant, not victimized by certain categories. for instance, too much boho may look hippie-flower child (which i think is cute but i wouldn’t be caught dead walking around town in); too much military and you’d probably be better off wearing the official-issue fatigue uniform; too much goth… well, you get the drift. every now and then, we can treat ourselves to an indulgent piece (a sailor’s hat, a victorian corset, tribal beads), but it is best to keep the rest of the outfit sensible to off-set the quirk.
boho chic. bohemian style. key elements: vintage, ethnic prints, layers, scarfs, jandals, bangles, beads, multi-strand necklaces, maxi dress, big sunglasses, slouchy stuff like hobo bags, oversize cardigans, knit caps. colors: rich warm colors like brown, khaki, cream, deep orange and olive green.
casual chic. sometimes easy chic. dressed down yet stylish; combining casual wear with fashionable dressing. probably the prevailing style in 2010 catwalks. key elements: mostly for comfort like denim, linen, khaki, cotton dresses, tank tops paired with pieces and shoes in season. color: timeless neutrals, black and white with palettes from the runway.
eco chic. use of ecologically friendly materials in the construction of clothing and accessories. key elements: fair trade items, organic materials, reconstructed clothing.
geek chic. the look of geeks, once regarded as unpopular and socially awkward, has become cool by today’s standards, thanks in large part to real geeks amassing fortunes in the infotech industry. key elements: thick-frame glasses, crew-neck shirts, denim jeans, cargo pants, sneakers, surfer fedoras and baseball caps; minimal or no jewelries at all. graphic prints of video games, anime, cult films, graphic novels. colors: muted tones.
goth chic. gothic dressing can be morbid and macabre because it takes inspiration in the victorian manner of dressing for mourning. normally associated with emo and the new punk. key elements: leather, dog collars, victorian lace and ruffles, amulets, macabre jewelry (skulls, pentacles, occult symbols), fishnet stockings, thigh high boots, corsets, gloves, stovepipe hats. colors: black. sometimes with a sudden show of scarlet, fuschia or purple.
heroin chic. the emaciated and seemingly addicted look, most popular in the 90′s. thank god that’s over.
military chic. applying military gear into fashion. anything from land, air or sea warfare. elements: metal studs, insignias, emblems, antique buttons, epaulets, bomber jackets, boots, dogtags, nautical symbols. colors: army green, military fatigue, khaki. navy blue, red and white for nautical style.
shabby chic. the look of being worn or “shabby” but in a stylish way. it is usually associated with interior design, though it is also applied to clothing and accessories. “shabby chic” is coined by interior designer rachel ashwell, whose company is called that very same term.
i am currently quite fixated on shabby chic because i feel like redecorating with vintage finds and applying a few “wearing out” techniques on some furniture. which means i will be writing a dedicated entry on that some other time.
when jill posted an entry about restoring her mother’s wedding dress for her to wear on her own wedding day, i was reminded that, as a child, i wanted to wear a vintage gown on my special day too. of course, two decades later, that did not happen. my mother would have loved for me to wear her 1970′s gown (which i love; it looks like jenny’s wedding dress in forrest gump), but fitting into her former 23-inch waistline was an impossible feat. nevertheless, my fascination for vintage dresses has never waned one bit.
i am an avid ukay shopper. i thoroughly scour racks and bravely dig into crates for rare finds. i have been rewarded many many times for my patience and persistence, and i have to say i am quite proud of myself for being such a cheapskate sometimes. here in fiji, we are as big an ukay culture as the philippines, if not bigger. in all the second-hand outlets i’ve been to, there were evening dresses and prom gowns and formal wear on top of the usual casual and day wear, something i didn’t see quite often back home. two of these outlets even had wedding gowns. well now.
as the turn of events revived my fervent interest in vintage pieces and my ardent love for discovering beautiful pre-loved things burning as always, i went to my favorite vintage shop online, posh girl vintage, to look around and sigh at the dreamy wedding dresses. i may have exhausted my opportunity to wear these wonderful items, but there might be some of you out there who may like the dresses i found:
1950s organza tea length wedding dress
1950s designer wedding gown
1950s marilyn monroe halter dress
1960s empire flowy wedding dress
1950s white silk and lace tea length dress
1940s ivory beaded wedding dress
1950s white tea length wedding dress
1950s white strapless chiffon long gown
1950s tea length lace wedding dress
1950s perfect white tea length dress
1970s long hippie angel dress
and my favorite:
1950s pink and white princess gown
*sigh*
clockwise from top left: katelyn epperly, john park, charity vance, seth rollins, angela martin, shelby dressel, paige dechausse, jay stone, jermaine purifoy
chicago
i was just so underwhelmed by chicago, i didn’t even bother indulging myself with an entry about it. but i’m going to now anyway, because one of them might just shine in hollywood week, make it to the top 12 and make me eat my words.
shania twain, that sexy/sweet vixen of country, in cardigan and long skirt one time, in bra and leather pants the next, guest judged in chicago and i think she is just so darn likeable! on both days, simon was in such a good mood, he would crack jokes and banter good-naturedly with the other judges, i couldn’t believe we were witnessing a rarity. we think it’s because shania was next to him the whole time and her cheerfulness was rubbing off on him.
oh, shania, i wish you would come down to our small pacific island. you’re so nice and so gorgeous, my husband has a major crush on you.
the family story
katelyn epperly is the family story of the night; the broken family story for that matter. i know i’m supposed to feel sorry for the kid who says it’s the first time in her life to do something significant without her father to provide moral support, but i don’t. because 1) she’s too young for us to take “in her life” seriously, there are too many other things later that will not involve both her parents, and 2) stats show 40% of unions in america end in divorce, so her circumstances are not at all extraordinary. sure, i’m being insensitive now, but we here are closely exposed to shattered environments to feel anything special towards any other of that kind. she sang “syrup and honey”. i think it had too much vibrato, any more tremulous than that, she would sound like disney’s snow white. well, with that story build-up, i suppose it’s no surprise she’s off to hollywood.
charity vance‘s family is too cool! i mean they all have great hair! they run a salon in their home and when the cameras took to covering her parents in action, we see that their salon is not one of those small, simple establishments because they were clearly decked out and swanky. she sings to the customers with a broom in her hand, i think she was in the middle of sweeping hair trimmings. she sang “summertime” and she’s not bad at all. and we hear that trite, useless line “i can’t believe you’re just 16″ again from the panel. does everyone not recall that allyson iraheta and jordin sparks were just 16 the time they auditioned? charity bursts out of the audition to to her folks and we see her parents with another companion who has the best bob-cut hair of them all.
the uncommon circumstances, uncommon personalities
angela martin‘s story makes me want to root for her all the way. i like the patient, persistent, ambitious women of this world, they are so hard to find these days! it’s her third time to audition on ai. the first time she made her way to hollywood, her father just tragically passed. on her second hollywood attempt, she failed to make it on a crucial date as she had to appear in court for a traffic violation. they say third time’s the charm, so this should be angela’s year. simon kids her with a “no” but says “just kidding!” after eyes are widened in semi-shock. after angela, he jokes “yes” to an awful audition. told you he was in a good mood.
john park is, i bet, another asian over-achiever whose parents expect so much from in terms of academics. we are sure he’s korean, and i am suddenly reminded of the korean dude in season 7′s live show; the one who performed barefoot out of… i don’t really remember, superstition or something? john said his parents are against him singing, but that doesn’t stop him from showing up. he sings well, but we’re not wowed. not a big deal, many kids are discouraged by parents to do stuff that involve trying to become a superstar. shania is majorly crushing on john. he makes it through and tells seacrest “shania loves me”.
the sob story
paige dechausse suffered a serious case of asthma at 15 and almost lost her life. while in anaphylactic shock, the doctors declared she would have only 30% chance of survival, and if she does, she would likely suffer brain damage. i want to root for her because we have a survival story very close to us too, but my insensitivity keeps getting the best of me and i don’t feel like watching out for her. maybe because i didn’t really like her singing? we’ve heard better before who didn’t make it to hollywood. only simon says no, since randy was persuaded by the ladies to give paige another chance. nothing like estrogen to let the touching back-stories audition on behalf of the actual persons. i somehow want to blame danny gokey for this.
the no special back-stories
justin ray, keith semple and marcus jones form the cursory 90-second mash auditions for this episode. we don’t hear much from them, but i feel like i’m going to like them better than the ones who were milked for our crying pleasure (except angela). my husband says he’s going to look out for justin with his jerry curls. i hope we hear more from keith; he sang a bryan adams song and he was pretty good. exudes that kenny loggins vibe, but i could be wrong. hey, i love kenny loggins, so sue me!
orlando
what’s more annoying than kara dioguardi judging on idol? kara and kristin chenoweth together judging on idol.
okay, i like kristen in pushing daisies, i think she is brilliant. i have never seen wicked on broadway (duh), but i’m sure she is exceptional there. she won a tony for her performance (would you believe, so did constantine maroulis?). off-camera and off-stage i always found her pleasantly quirky. i think it’s mixing her personality with kara’s that makes the formula all wrong. nevermind my thoughts, i’m just being touchy.
the family stories
seth collins has two kids, one of them with autism. we watch him bonding with his son at home and i don’t think the little one has a very serious case. perhaps aspberger’s? i’m not the end-all in sped, but i have handled a child with autism for about a year in tutorial and mainstream school combined. seth’s son looks like one of those kids who are not annoying because his parents don’t condone the naughty parts of his behavior. i like them. it helps that seth sang “someone to watch over me” very well. he should go far, i think.
bernadette desimone and amanda desimone are sisters so close, i bet they share clothes, underwear included. okay, shoot me. bernadette sang “hit the road, jack,” and, for me, someone auditioning with such a song goes to hollywood by default. amanda chooses to sing “i want to dance with somebody” and i could almost change the channel, i’m so tired of hearing whitney in these shows. while amanda sings, bernadette is closing her eyes and nodding with feeling just into our peripheral vision. they both make it, but i’m sensing a very tear-jerking split during the decision-making round. remember sanjaya malakar and sister? how could we forget?
shelby dressel has a rare nerve problem that paralyzes the right side of her face. you know what, i think she’s prettier than many girls whose faces don’t have nerve problems. i don’t find her her too exciting, but i somehow got interested when she forgot the words to “turn me on” and they had to bleep a profanity. she gets four yeses thanks to that. though in hollywood, they send home those who miss the lyrics.
jay stone beatboxes better than blake lewis in my opinion. he even sings better so far. he sang and beatboxed at the same time, take that, blake. he sang/beatboxed “come together,” and, you know me, anybody who sings beatles is a good person. again, i am thankful to the persons who hold the rights to beatles songs for finally lifting the curtain, allowing us to witness auditions like jay’s.
cornelius edwards is the most something else of something else’s! he tells judges that he is friends with women who “dance for money” and simon eggs out the stripping part from him. i like cornelius, i could already tell that he is a very fun guy, we want to be friends with him! he said he was going to sing tina turner’s “rolling,” but we all know it’s called “proud mary”. the judges don’t correct him, not even simon, a sign that they like this guy too, they’re not going to give him a hard time. he does a jumping split a la exotic dancer and rips his pants in front of the panel. simon says something to the effect of being obliged to let him through to hollywood after that accident.
the break-catchers
jermaine purifoy, another african-american jermaine who can sing! this is his second time to audition. unlike angela, he didn’t even qualify for the next round the first time he tried. we don’t know how he could have bungled the first time (he said he deserved being rejected) because he has a very nice voice singing “smile”. simon said the girls are going to like him. looks like the females will be divided between jermaine 1 and jermaine 2 if they both make it to the live show.
matt lawrence reminds me of my family (both consanguinity and affiliation). working for a family business with heavy equipment, although i don’t know for sure how heavy matt’s trucks are. the producers must be thinking they hit the motherload of back-stories here because he spent four birthdays in jail for robbing a bank with a bb gun… at age 15. which means it must have been juvy given he was a minor then, but still. fortunately for us, he has a very good singing voice, so we don’t have to wrangle with the guilt of not liking a person with a life of hard-knocks (the way i’m not really liking paige dechausse).
i can’t wait for them to find a real hustler they can build up to become someone like 50 cent or snoop. oh wait, they have. but they can’t air the dirty laundry of this one lest concerned parents start a protest along the lines of good moral values: skii bo ski from atlanta has enough mugshots to make a scrapbook out of. in 2006, he was tasered after swallowing crack. don’t quote me…
jannell wheeler, brittany starr james and kasi bedford are all going to hollywood. with what little we saw, i am only interested in watching brittany because she sang “american boy” and that song is too cool.
idol is off to l.a. next week with avril lavigne and katy perry!
it started with ricky gervais hosting and mo’nique giving the speech to end all speeches. then it ended with avatar winning best picture. i know, i know, i have said all i can say here. i wrote that still all agog with inglourious basterds, but i’m not so bad considering i am biased towards quentin tarantino because now i can admit that i honestly think the hurt locker should have nabbed the best picture. my thoughts summarized by a comment here that goes:
The Hurt Locker should have won for Best Motion Picture – Drama, and Kathryn Bigelow should have gotten the Best Director win, period.
Instead, Avatar, which I call “Titanic: Take 2″, won for Best Motion Picture – Drama, and James Cameron wins for Best Director. I’m sorely tempted to believe Avatar’s win was a triumph of glossy, shallow style and overinflated hype over serious substance and thoughtful intelligence…
and the hangover winning against (500) days of summer? and qt not getting best screenplay, having lost to one that was adapted? i don’t rant like other buffs who hate the idea of distinguishing drama from comedy/musical saying a good movie should be a good movie no matter what genre, but i’m beginning to see the irony in failing to distinguish original from adapted screenplay. i really don’t know what’s up with the foreign press, i am tempted to take ricky gervais’ joke about buying the awards seriously.
anyhow, i think i can get over this and i think the only real upset that can occur in this year’s awards show is if christoph waltz loses to whoever in the world. winning for his supporting role in inglourious basterds was a no-brainer.
and since i can’t say anything good about avatar taking the plum, i might as well move on to the red carpet…
there were less black and more pales this year. the ones who wore color wore them loud and proud. the ones who wore crystals wore them plenty. i like that more ladies were taking to prints. and oh, i loved very much that it rained because i am crazy about scenes with umbrellas. look at the gentlemen keep their ladies from getting wet!
images from zimbio.
i like…
shaun robinson. i’m into layering different textures and this one created a beautiful rosebud effect in the most royal shades of blue.
dianna agron. i would have chosen a more youthful color and hairstyle, but the empire cut and flowy drape of her dress more than make up for it.
chloe sevigny. at first, i didn’t know what to make of the ruffles extending down to her sides, but it just kind of grew on me eventually. especially after she declared onstage that someone ripped her dress.
tina fey. i like this best. length and silhouette are reminiscent of the 40′s and 50′s, but the cut and print are very modern. and the shoes are gorgeous!
fergie. i actually think the tan brunette look is working for her, though i’d probably miss her being blond and wish she goes back to being one again later. the lavender brings out the blue of her eyes. that’s josh duhamel’s hand holding out the brolly for her.
amy adams. she was one of the few who attended the ceremony in a short dress. i love her shabby updo with the side-swept bangs! and the copper of her clutch and shoes are the best.
drew barrymore. my second favorite. i didn’t know what to think about the anemone sprouting from her hip at first, but like chloe’s ruffles, the strangeness grew on me and i like the overall effect. it’s the perfect sheer and scattered crystals.
lara spencer. the plain white dress made the perfect canvas for her blue cuff and necklace, as well as the pink of her clutch and cocktail ring.
ginnifer goodwin. my favorite photo moment. the blue of her dress provided a very sharp contrast against the red of the carpet. and her striking black hair, shoes and brolly with her fair skin made her stand out.
maria menounos. her dress, on the other hand, matched the carpet. props to her for braving the weather even if the train of her gorgeous dress was getting all soggy!
toni colette. i’m loving the art deco-inspired gold sparkle!
jane adams. she could have done without the necklace and carried a smaller clutch. but it’s a very pretty dress nevertheless.
jaime pressly. i wasn’t so keen on the dress, but when i saw the shoes, i was smitten. and i have always thought she had the most beautiful legs in hollywood!
olivia wilde. the slink and sparkle of the dress is very studio 54, i like! and she carried the coolest clutch of the night.
maggie gyllenhaal. if there is one lady who can pull off an unorthodox design like this, that would be maggie. she’s just too cool like that.
kate hudson. this is a dress that takes getting used to. because this is kate, known to be very ballsy with her wardrobe choices, i’m going to say i like this ensemble, feathers and all. i think she has the best arms and shoulders in hollywood.
felicity huffman. wait, i change my mind, i think felicity huffman has the best arms and shoulders in hollywood.
christina hendricks. she owns this look! she and nicole kidman had the same shade of dress, same shade of hair and same shade of skin that night, but i think christina was more exciting to see.
christina aguilera. another christina, only this one’s a music superstar. which means she can get away with more outlandish designs. i like the married with children classy christina aguilera! such a far cry from her dirrrty persona.
emily blunt. okay, by this time, i’m getting tired of strapless column dresses, but i just have to toss emily in. because she wore just the right amount of deconstruction (unlike zoe saldana) and she wore awesome cuffs.
sophia loren. this era, sophia will never do wrong in my eyes. she is 75 years old and still rocks more than you and me combined!
unlike younger celebs now who hold a clutch in one hand while the other is pressed to the waist, she carries a shoulder evening bag and waves to the crowd more than she poses! that’s old school hollywood, when good movies had good performances and good stories… wait, don’t get me started.
did i mention that she’s 75?
before the golden globes later, see how your favorites fared in the earlier awards shows…
people’s choice awards are voted by the people and critics’ choice awards are voted by critics. duh. i just had to explain why twilight wins somewhere. it’s hard to swallow, but the people has spoken.
i will not waste your time.
here are the major winners of the 2010 critics choice awards:
best picture: the hurt locker
best director: kathryn bigelow (the hurt locker)
best original screenplay: quentin tarantino (inglourious basterds)
best actor: jeff bridges (crazy heart)
best actress: meryl streep (julie & julia) and sandra bullock (the blind side)
best supporting actor: christoph waltz (inglourious basterds)
best supporting actress: mo’nique (precious)
best acting ensemble: inglourious basterds
best adapted screenplay: jason reitman and sheldon turner (up in the air)
major winners of the people’s choice awards:
favorite talk show: the ellen degeneres show
favorite on screen team: the twilight saga
favorite tv comedy: the big bang theory
favorite r&b artist: mariah carey
favorite tv comedy actor: steve carrell
favorite tv comedy actress: alyson hannigan
favorite country artist: carrie underwood
favorite tv drama actor: hugh laurie
favorite tv drama: house
favorite movie actress: sandra bullock
favorite movie actor: johnny depp
favorite male artist: eminem / keith urban
favorite female artist: taylor swift
favorite comedic star: jim carrey
favorite rock band: paramore
favorite comedy movie: the proposal
favorite movie: twilight
favorite tv drama actress: katherine heigl
favorite independent movie: inglourious basterds
favorite pop artist: lady gaga
and for those of you whose time i have wasted with the winners because they would rather see the red carpet dresses, below are the ones i find interesting in one way or another. unlike the golden globes and the oscars, the earlier awards shows are less formal. thus, since the ladies can wear short dresses, we get to see more shoes.
critics’ choice awards red carpet
people’s choice awards red carpet
atlanta raises boston with 10,000 people. most of them are likely to be family and friends of the contestants, but that’s still an insane number.
at this point, i am really really really missing paula already. i mean i’ve been missing her since boston, but after a day of kara and starting another, i wish paula pulls a fast one on us and suddenly shows up. i stuffed my face with ice cream and yogurt to cushion the pain of loss, but i don’t think we can do anything to bring her back to idol now. paula was the “nice judge”, whether she was built up to portray the persona or she really was that nice in real life, it doesn’t matter. she was the one who tried to comfort and console contestants after simon or randy hurt their feelings. kara seems to just stoke the fire and at times even starts the fire altogether. like bikini girl last year and andrew fenlon this year. i still can’t get over that, can i?
the rumor mill turns and people are speculating a paula comeback in x-factor with simon next year. others say she should judge so you think you can dance. paula in sytycd would be a stupendous idea.
still no ellen in atlanta. many haters out there not liking ellen on idol one bit, saying, how can she judge a singing competition when she has no background in music and her moves don’t cut it? they can hate all they want because ellen will always be idol’s biggest and most famous fan, so the anti-ellen campaign can just put a sock in it. don’t hate on ellen for replacing paula… paula should have stayed and kara should have left instead for ellen to take her place.
check it out, here is paula hosting vh1 divas with an ellen parody (look at paula dance! she’s still got the groove!):
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJaat0Ofl7I&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6]
wait, we’re talking about the atlanta auditions here, right? mary j. blige, the woman that needs no introduction, guest judges atlanta.
for the first time, the auditions are held where contestants have to brave a lonesome elevator ride up to the 27th floor. just like the hollywood week culmination, cameras are rolling inside the elevator, so the tension, the elation and the defeat are all the more lengthened for our viewing pleasure.
i liked the talent better in boston than in atlanta (apart from jermaine), but i like the personalities better in atlanta.
clockwise: antonio wheeler, bryan walker, jermaine sellers, tisha holland, noelle reece, holly harden, miriam lemnouni, keia johnson, mallorie halley
jermaine sellers has been taking care of his mother since he was 17. his mother suffers from a condition called spinal bifida which causes her great pain when it strikes. jermaine is a church singer. so here’s a church singer who takes care of his sick mother. it’s not one of your “oh, woe is me!” tearjerky stories, just a real life story of one who works and loves hard for a living. i want him badly to get through. in fact, i want him to win the whole darn show. he sang “what if god was one of us”, a song i’m actually annoyed with. but he sang it r&b style, much better than the original joan osborne version in my opinion. he can even shave a little of the “too nice” image and actually be cool like usher or something. i have faith that he can make it to the top 12. have faith!
the uncommon personalities, uncommon circumstances
keia johnson joined a pageant and won miss congeniality. simon makes fun of her by asking questions that allude to the age-old issue of beauty vs. personality. i think keia answered very good-naturedly and was so classy about it. she sang “my heart will go on,” a song that annoys me more than “what if god was one of us” and would have assured an elimination if i had my way with the world. however, like jermaine, she sang an extremely cloying song r&b style and made it actually very interesting. she gets through to hollywood, she and her congeniality.
vanessa wolfe jumps bridges. she is a hillbilly, trailer park, heavy drawl kind of person who jumps bridges. she’s from a small town in tennessee and if i am correct with my interpretation of the vonore town sign, it has a population of only 859. i may be wrong, it may be a thousand or so, whatever. she declares that she is wearing a dress worth a measly $4.50. that’s my kind of shopper there. she sang “wagon wheel” and she wasn’t bad at all. only i didn’t understand a word she sang. judges go “authentic”, “distinct” and other synonyms to the word real and different. simon tells her something not too nice (but not too mean either) so she retorts “if i didn’t have a dress on, i’d throw you.” she is in tears when she finds out that she, a little town girl, is going to hollywood. then she runs yelling outside the premises barefoot.
antonio wheeler a.k.a. skii bo ski is too cool for the auditions. he speaks in phrases like snoop dogg, but i don’t think he’s doing that on purpose; i think he’s stoned like snoop dogg. “skibo ski” is printed on his shirt and when he spells out his alias to the camera, someone points out that the shirt is not spelled right. and he says something like it’s the misprint that gave him a discount. i like this guy! we thought he was going to make a fool of himself in front of the judges, but when he sang “i heard it on the grapevine,” he was very good! he goes on to say something like “even with the dollar store, you can have everything you want in that one package, and it only costs you a dollar.” no one makes sense of it. randy says he doesn’t understand what skii bo ski is saying, something you should slap randy’s head for because we don’t understand half of what he’s saying either. he goes through and i wish he makes it to the live show.
lauren sanders and carmen turner are bff’s. you know they are tv-series-style bff’s, the kind who must have been attached by the hip at birth, when you see them do each other’s make up in the waiting room and talk simultaneously, finish one another’s sentences. it’s kind of creepy. we can see a mmmmmile away what’s going to happen. they come into the audition room as a duo and they are quite funny. they sing one after the other and you can see that one sings better than the other. simon says they could be the “ditz sisters” and someone in the panel snickers like something lewd was said. we know what they are thinking and they’re just being pests. anyway, simon says they should either go through together or be rejected together, observing that they are interesting as a pair but boring when separated. the idea of “ditz sisters” obviously doesn’t appeal to the other judges because they only let carmen through. there’s a big show of mourning and heartbreak when the bff’s go down to the waiting room where lauren’s family was waiting. i was hoping for something like “you b—-, you should have told them you’re not going without me!” but that would be asking too much.
holly harden looks and sounds familiar to my husband. he quickly says that this is the same country girl in america’s got talent. she looks and sounds familiar to me… oh, she looks and sounds like kellie pickler. i bet she will be labeled as “the next kellie pickler” if she makes it to the live show: the cute little dumb blonde with a deep south accent. hey, i’m not knocking her, i actually like kellie! it wasn’t mentioned on idol, but holly said back in agt that she works as a clerk in radio shack. this time, she came into the audition as a guitar. many people were probably wishing that she makes a mess of her song because the guitar ensemble is not only annoying but infuriating. she sang “you ain’t woman enough to take my man” and sails through.
bryan walker‘s audition was missed my simon (he got up to take a breather). pity. for simon. bryan walker is very good. he is a police officer. everybody likes a man in uniform, right? especially one that can sing. he sang “superstar” and i always like men who can pull off women’s songs. the singing cop might have a place waiting for him in the live show. just my speculation.
miriam lemnouni, noelle reece and tisha holland were shown in quick succession. looks like idol producers trying to make us see that more women are getting through in atlanta.
mallorie halley sang “piece of my heart” country style. i usually would hate it if anyone tweaks janis joplin like that, but that wasn’t all too bad for me to hate. mary j. blige says it’s the best vocal she’s heard that day (what? really?). she gets a unanimous yes to hollywood. good, but i’m not so keen on her.
and then there is general larry platt
the pimp spot is reserved for the general. in a competition best known for the most talented and the most grotesque, here is a contestant who neither has the most superb vocals nor is the most deluded, but is now this season’s instant superstar. he is larry platt, 62 years old, but what the heck? the producers let him through even if he is way beyond the age limit. he sang a song he wrote called “pants on the ground,” and it is one hell of a catchy song. he wrote it for the young people these days who wear their jeans too low. he dances and does a split good enough to put younger people to shame. simon tells him that idol has a max age limit of 28, but he goes up to embrace platt and sings (or bobs to?) “pants on the ground” with him. randy did the same. and idol had the other people in the waiting room sing “pants on the ground” simultaneously. it was too trippy.
simon says, “i have a horrible feeling that is going to be a big hit.” and it already is! in a matter of hours from the time platt appeared on t.v., remixes and covers with instruments have appeared all over the viral universe. i hope it’s copyrighted so he gets paid…
get this: he is a civil rights legend!
platt is something of a u2 songwriting nirvana: he was beaten in the historic bloody sunday and marched with martin luther king, jr. and rev. hosea williams. it was rev. williams himself who nicknamed platt “general.” you can only imagine how relevant he is in society and in history. and look at this legend, singing on the idol auditions where lesser people might misconstrue him as just another crazy old man! i am sure he doesn’t care what we think.
for “his great energy and commitment to equality and the protection of the innocent and for his outstanding service to the atlanta community and the citizens of georgia,” september 4, 2001 was declared larry platt day in atlanta.
beat that, all other american idol hopefuls.
click here for an article about gen. larry platt.
question is why let him past the preliminaries when he is obviously overage? is this show turning out to be a sham? i don’t think so. at a time when a country is floundering under the weight of recession, only in a sense of humor can things make more… well, sense. apart from that, only by allowing platt before the judges can the world know about this extraordinary man and his contributions to society; i mean, none of his accomplishments were mentioned in the show, but it sure got me along with hundreds of thousands of viewers to look up his background.
here’s an amateur video taken in the waiting room and posted on youtube by another contestant. this one lucky dude just shot a comic treasure here and didn’t even realize it then! platt singing “pants on the ground” with bff’s carmen and lauren casting glances from behind. they were probably thinking, “what a nuisance,” but look who’s famous now!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76YGyJSwSRI&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
gen. larry platt’s place in the idol finale is sealed.
alrighty then! the stats are in. and idol continues to rake in large numbers with 29.8 million viewers for the premier episode.
we have so much to thank idol producers for. they cater to our fantasies with american dreams, sob stories, family bonds, unfulfilled employees looking for meaning, underrated talents trying to catch a break. and, as usual, they try to shove it down our throats encouraging our tears for the likeables and our loathing for the weird. i don’t mind this format. in fact, i downright watch and wait for it. i am a hypocrite in the mold of: i hate town gossip but i love media fodder. so idol can play up everybody’s story and squeeze as much juice from even the mundane ones. they know we love it.
and it all started with a wide shot of the 9000 hopefuls who turned up during audition day despite the two-inch rainfall. determination has to be emphasized.
to my disappointment, ellen degeneres didn’t even make an appearance. victoria beckham did. her only claim to music having been one-fifth of the spice girls and arguably the worst singer at that. the one who couldn’t hold up when they disbanded. until david beckham came along on his noble steed. there, i said it. and when one contestant was asked whether she knew who victoria was, she said “victoria…david beckham’s wife,” to which kara the clueless turned to victoria and made a sarcastic remark. excuse me, ms. dioguardi, she is better known as david beckham’s wife. right, right, she’s a global fashion icon, designer, businesswoman, whatever, but these all came as perks of being married to beckham, after she had “borrowed” the influence, moved to hollywood with his sports contract and became friends with that scientology couple. she would practically be nobody now if not for him. give that contestant a break, will you? victoria didn’t seem offended, why does kara have to push the wrong buttons? hey, don’t get me wrong, i am a huge spice girls fan (i have their albums and their concert videos. i mean it), but we have to admit that their success is due more to image than talent. at any rate, i really do admire victoria beckham for her sense of style.
now a style icon, we can hardly even remember that she used to sing in a girl group. how many birkins can one person have?
from purse blog and the celebrity blog.
true story: a few seasons ago, someone auditioned with a terrible rendition of a spice girls song. judges said it was bad. in jest, simon quipped that at least she sang it better than the spice girls. well now. i wonder if they even remember that incident with victoria on the same panel.
on to some of the hopefuls who made it through to hollywood.
clockwise: amadeo diricco, katie stevens, bosa mora, maddy curtis, mike davis, justin williams, joshua blaylock, leah laurenti, tyler grady
from rickey.
maddy curtis is 16 and is one of the youngest in a big brood of kids. her brother has down’s syndrome and she has been his constant guide. her parents are such big-hearted people, they adopted more kids with ds so their child can have more companions. maddy sang “hallelujah” well, though at this point it might be hard to tell whether this is her style of music. kara the pointless says she has an “old soul” which makes us think what the…? the song is old, but her vocals sound young without the squeaky-squeaky. simon gives her a compliment when he said that they’ve had many teenagers sing, but maddy is “not annoying”. as she leaves, she tells them she “enjoyed singing for (them)” and you can tell right away that she’s a good kid.
amadeo diricco, from an extended italian-american family. we see them in the kitchen making their own sauces and their own wine. we see them around the dining table laughing boisterously, talking and eating at the same time. it’s like a scene from a cooking show or maybe a mafia movie. please, i don’t mean that in a racist way, we all love mafia movies. he sang muddy waters’ “hoochie coochie man”, a demanding song that requires prowess and attitude. well, he certainly had the power, can’t say much about the vocals, but he’s through anyway based on personality. waiting outside were his brothers(?)/cousins(?), all tall and muscular like him. there was testosterone overload when he charged out of the audition room. maybe the judges let him through so these guys won’t clobber them? anyway, he has automatically become my husband’s favorite.
the sob stories
katie stevens is obviously very close to her grandmother who was diagnosed with alzheimer’s disease a year ago. you can tell that young katie (she’s 16) is deeply affected by this. she says she is auditioning because her grandmother may not have much time left and she wants grandma to see her succeed first. she must be very strong to admit that, much less open up about it. she sang “at last” very skillfully (a little too belt-y for a jazz song, but she probably meant to do that). we find her having more vocal character than the earlier 16-year-old, kara should have reserved her canned comment of “old soul” for katie instead.
justin williams survived cancer. ooooh i can just see the producers rubbing their palms together for this one. he wasn’t bad singing “feeling good”, nothing a little halo effect can’t lift. seriously though, he does have talent for hollywood week, got a unanimous yes for that. producers are probably hoping he does well in the next round so they can stretch his story into the live show the way they did danny gokey’s last year.
the uncommon characters, uncommon circumstances
tyler grady is my breakaway favorite of the day. the moment his 70′s inspired scruffy hair and duds came into view, i was hoping so hard that he makes it through. it’s so perfect that his style seemed naturally his own and not an attempt to stand out whatsoever. as usual, some clueless remark was cast from the panel saying he looks 60′s, to which another retorted that it’s more like the 70′s. someone has to work on style chronology. i’m not an expert, i’m just saying… anyway, he is undoubtedly cute in a strange way, made even more enchanting by the braces on his wrists; he hurt himself falling from a tree. very unfortunate for one who plays drums in a band. he said he aspires to be a frontman. he sang “let’s get it on” with that raspy voice and randy was so spot-on when he commented how tyler has that morrison stance.
joshua blaylock, oh joshua. if this were nice idol, he would have been a shoo-in for the title. he sang “bless the broken road”. he has a decent boyband-type voice (and we mean a talented boyband) but the judges are quite concerned that he is neither confident nor assertive enough to want the title badly enough. so they gave him a lesson on assertiveness by having him tell off simon. he goes, “simon, shut up!….please,” which proves that he just can’t get rid of the niceness even if he were given the license to be mean. his politeness is a compulsion. i like that.
leah laurenti, for me, had the best vocals in the episode by far. she belongs to a very religious family of ardent churchgoers. she was never allowed to listen to secular music. with her feeling guilty, does it go without saying that her family might not be too pleased with her being in the auditions? and in a skimpy outfit too. her “blue skies” rendition is fantastic, her family doesn’t know what they would be depriving america of if they don’t want her involved in the mainstream. i suddenly think the story may be a little embellished because when she called her dad to tell him she’s going to hollywood, she asked, “are you proud of me?” and he replied, “of course i am.” but then, i kind of feel sad that she had to ask that at all. could someone point out to her family that katy perry also had a very strict upbringing?
mike davis must make one heck of a friend. he has a sense of humor, he is charming and cute without trying. he excitedly tells the judges that he drives a boat named “codzilla” (ooh, watch my husband’s and my father-in-law’s eyes pop at the boat) for a living, indulged them with a view of it skimming across the water behind them. the girls are falling for him the way they did for tyler. he even “scored” a date with kara and “bragged” about it to seacrest.
bosa mora‘s parents are from nigeria. they migrated to the states in pursuit of the american dream, circumstances very familiar to us pinoys. right before he came on, my husband was saying he wants to see an african-american sing r&b. well, he got it, and this one very close to africa, when bosa sang “you look so good in love”. simon’s “boring” card doesn’t faze the other judges. he is my husband’s other favorite by default.
jennifer hirsh, jess wolfe and claire fuller were mashed in 90 seconds of airtime. jennifer, i hope, can bring beatnik far into the program. she sang and scatted “ding dong, the witch is dead” making it very jazzy and ultimately memorable. jess wolfe has an unusual voice that would make her individual and may even stand out if she plays her cards right. claire fuller, claire fuller… hmmm…..
ashley rodriguez, according to simon has that “it” factor. she’s charming, she’s good looking and she’s confident without being overbearing. on top of that, she sang “if i ain’t got you” with great skill and control, kara was even lip synching as she auditioned.
luke shaffer and benjamin bright were jamming in the waiting room with their guitars along with a third one who either didn’t get through or sang a song idol hasn’t procured the rights to yet. luke sang “fall for you”, benjamin sang “all my loving”.
so what do we think of boston?
the season just started and i have found a few i would be watching closely. boston this year produced some great talent, even the “bad” ones weren’t that bad. while some tears were shed, there weren’t any full-blown hysteria or furious profanity.
well, they did get some attitude from andrew fenlon, who didn’t get through even if we honestly thought he had the voice to make it to the next round. if you don’t believe me, ask simon. he says yes to the guy. victoria saying he doesn’t “have the goods” to back up his arrogance doesn’t count because a) she doesn’t have it either but she sang in a girl group anyway, and b) she seems affected too by what transpired. i blame it on kara. i know andrew was all sarcastic and rude, but we didn’t find him obnoxious, he was generally just ignored by the other judges, until kara instigated the argument. she did exactly the same thing with bikini girl last year (thank you, idol producers, for refreshing everyone’s memory). remember how kara couldn’t let the incident past bikini girl and had to incessantly make mean comments through hollywood round? looks like she won’t get this one past andrew this year (thank you again, idol producers, for showing us that clip of kara and victoria outside the audition room where kara kept going on about andrew). why does she have to dip all ten of her thumbs into stuff? and if she is so successful, why is she so insecure? i hope the producers get andrew back for the finale and she would be forced into a showdown again for charity. get over it, kara!
and thank god the beatles have succumbed and allowed idol to air their songs. the curtain was lifted two years ago, thus they had a beatles week for the first time then. this year, hopefuls get to sing beatles (like this episode’s “yesterday” and “all my loving”) without being left on the cutting floor.
next, atlanta!
with the golden globes just around the corner (and the obsession that is idol even closer! but that’s not the story), we are again preparing to scan the throng of stars for things to talk about, good or bad. as the first major red carpet event every year, there is some pressure on celebs to create a striking “first” impression.
before 2010 celebrity couture officially starts next week, i would like to round-up and rank my favorite red carpet dresses of 2009.
10. jamie-lynn sigler in dkny
it’s probably the gold dress with the silver accessories and the bronze tan. it’s like the olympic medals melded into a woman to become jamie-lynn sigler.
from in style.
9. tilda swinton in haider ackermann
there is only one tilda swinton the world so there is only one person in the world who can pull this off.
from my it things.
8. penelope cruz in balmain and sarah jessica parker in dior haute couture
penelope cruz maintains the status after 2007′s best dress. of course, sjp keeps up with her on-screen fashion role.
from splendicity.
7. katy perry in basil soda
hey, don’t knock the giant pink gladiola sprouting from her waist. all things considered, this is one of the tamest katy has been and this dress is gorgeous overall, gladiola or not.
6. blake lively in versace
well, someone had to uphold the reputation of gossip girl. because i don’t think leighton meester did.
5. evan rachel wood in elie saab couture and marisa tomei in atelier versace
the two dresses made by origami experts.
from blogdorfgoodman and mahalo.
4. emmy rossum in carolina herrera
the dress equivalent of a mullet: business at the front, party at the back.
from zimbio.
3. drew barrymore in monique lhuillier
you think i’m just biased towards a filipina designer?… nah.
from style spot.
2. kim kardashian in ina soltani
armenian beauty + bosnian design = stunning.
1. angelina jolie in versace
of course i’d show off those legs and back if i had them. of course i’d show off brad if i had him.
i like tattoos. i don’t have them, but i like them a whole lot. the good ones, that is. because there are plenty epic fails out there, as seen here. but if you get a really good one, you are hooked for life in more ways than just physically.
when carly smithson made it to the live show of american idol 7, there wasn’t much buzz about her ink; not that it was bad or even ordinary, in fact it was awesome, but because she was a rock chick and most people associate that genre with tattoos, thus eliminating any element of surprise to it. on the other hand, when megan joy corkrey, another contestant with tats, made it to the live show last year, there were many who commented how “ugly” it was or how “dirty” it made her look, that it was so out-of-place on such a sweet girl. i don’t know about you, but i would take the side of the few who said her ink was just fantastic. i could understand somehow why a number people associate tattoos with drugs, crime and general naughtiness, but i really can’t appreciate that perspective. i have many friends with tattoos, my husband has three himself, and none of them at all are psycho.
from htzfm.
from ydblogz.
i saw a lady in the supermarket a few days ago with a tattoo of what looked like a lori earley painting. well, it looked like a lori earley, but i may be wrong. what i know for sure is how fabulous it looked. everything from the linework to the shading, it was just phenomenal. but for every awesome tattoo, there are probably a handful of bad ones out there. so if you are considering a tattoo (or adding more) yourself, below are seven steps from tattoo johnny to getting the perfect design with the perfect workmanship.
Seven Steps to the Perfect Tattoo In this section we will provide you with step by step information to help you avoid some common mistakes. Remember, tattoos are a lifelong commitment. There is no simple tattoo eraser. Although laser removal is available, it is painful and expensive. Because no one cares more about your tattoo than you, the responsibility is yours to get the results you desire. Being educated on all phases of the tattoo process will put you in control. You will know the right questions to ask and be clear on exactly what you want. Do your homework and join the thousands that have taken the right steps towards THE PERFECT TATTOO!
STEP 1: Frame of Mind. (Never get tattooed under pressure)
Modern techniques have brought tattooing to incredible levels. There is no good reason for anyone to get a bad tattoo. However, unsatisfied customers occur everyday. One reason for this is customers getting tattooed under pressure. Sometimes It’s great to be impulsive, but tattoos are permanent. Avoid the “spur-of-the-moment tattoo.” Quick decisions often lead to a lifetime of regret. Step one is simple. Make sure you are emotionally ready to get tattooed.
Step 2: Selecting Your Design.
The first decision you will make is selecting a design. Make sure this is your choice and not that of a friend, spouse or tattooist. Never compromise on your tattoo design. It should be something you absolutely love. Some customers feel they must select a design from the tattoo studio. This is not true. Professional tattooists will appreciate you being prepared with a quality design. Selecting a tattoo from Tattoo Johnny, in the privacy of your own home, will free you from any outside pressure. Once you have selected the color reference and stencil for your design, you can download them to your computer. You will need to print both of these images to take to your tattooist.
Step 3: High Quality Tattoo Stencils. (The most important step!)
Working with a high quality stencil is the most important step in getting THE PERFECT TATTOO! Most people don’t realize that every tattoo design has a matching stencil. When you get tattooed, the stencil is applied directly to your skin. The tattooist will use a machine called a “liner” to set your stencil permanently into the skin. Do not be tempted to get tattooed solely from your color reference or from an inferior hand-traced stencil. Trying to trace or copy a stencil is the number one cause of bad tattoos. With Tattoo Johnny ORIGINAL ARTIST STENCILS, every curve and detail of your design will be accurate.
Tip: Bringing your tattooist a “ready to go” stencil can save you money on your tattoo.
Step 4: Test Drive Your Tattoo. ( So you can adjust for size and placement )
Now that you found your favorite design, it’s time to figure out the exact size and placement of your tattoo. It is not uncommon for a person to wish they had gotten their tattoo a bit bigger, smaller or a little to the left or the right. Before you get close to the needle, take your tattoo for a test drive. Tattoo Johnny’s Tattoo Test Paper turns any ink jet or laser printer into a personal tattoo test center. By simply printing your selected design onto our special paper you can easily transfer the printed image to your skin. We recommend testing your tattoo for at least a day to get accustomed to your new body art. Your test tattoo will fool almost everyone, including yourself. You will experience many of the emotional attachments with your test tattoo that you would if it were real. Taking your tattoo for a test drive is great fun and the best way to know you have made the right selection. Don’t fall into the trap of figuring these things out at the tattoo studio. Now you can take the time to find the perfect tattoo design, size and placement.
Tip: Although this step is not absolutely necessary for everyone, it provides great confidence to those who want to be absolutely sure.
Step 5: Finding The Right Artist.
Most of today’s tattoo professionals are far more skilled and highly trained then ever. It is your responsibility to make sure you are working with one of these quality professionals. Getting tattooed is intimate and personal. So how do you know who is right for you? There are three basic elements to consider when choosing: Experience, portfolio and attitude. It’s always good to find an artist who has a few years of experience and is seasoned with the style of artwork you have chosen. Ask to see their portfolio of finished tattoos. Reputable tattoo artists will have a portfolio. If portfolios are not available, this is a bad sign. Look carefully at the pictures. Check for the quality of the black outlines. Are these lines clean and crisp, or are they shaky and irregular? Also, look at the color or shading. Are the colors bright and solid or are they dull, with missing patches? Do the colors blend smoothly? Is the image easy to understand? Do the tattoos contour properly to the body? If the portfolio meets your requirements, you will want to get to know the artist. Because tattoos are personal and somewhat painful, it is good to work with someone who’s chair-side manner gives you great confidence. The artists should be open to answering your questions. They should share in your ideas and enthusiasm for your tattoo. If the artist does not like your ideas or tries to steer you into something you are not looking for, then you might be in the wrong place. Find an artist whom will to give you what you want. Stay true to your instincts. Not all tattoo artists are the same and it might take several trips to different tattoo studios before you find the right one. No tattoo artist is perfect, but there is a tattoo artist PERFECT for you!
Step 6: Appointment Day. (The better you sit, the better your tattoo.)
The big day has arrived. it’s important to show up rested and well nourished. Don’t go out late the night before your tattoo. You want to be well rested so you can relax and sit still. It’s also helpful to have eaten a good breakfast or lunch. Getting tattooed on an empty stomach can be difficult and lead to problems. When you sit quietly and relaxed, your tattoo artist can concentrate on doing a good job. It has been said that there are two kinds of tattoos, one for people who sit still and one for people who don’t. An edgy or restless tattoo customer takes valuable time and energy away from their own tattoo. Make sure you help your tattooist by being still and relaxed. Tensing up and complaining does not make the tattoo hurt any less, and is likely to have a negative effect on your tattoo. If you sit still and cooperate with your tattooist, you will be proud to know you did your part to make your tattoo come out PERFECT!
Tip: Never get tattooed while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Step 7: Caring For Your New Tattoo.
No tattoo is finished until the healing is complete. After the tattooist has done his or her job, it’s time for you to do yours. Your tattoo will take close to a month before it is completely healed. During the first stage of healing (approximately 4 to 5 days), you might experience soreness, discomfort, swelling, irritation and redness. During this time, it’s important to keep your tattoo clean. Most tattoo artists will agree that you should wash your new tattoo at least 4 or 5 times a day with a mild or antibacterial soap. Gently pat your tattoo dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. It is often recommended that you apply a very thin layer of antibiotic ointment after each wash. (Ask your tattooist to demonstrate). The second and final stage (3 – 4 weeks) will have a large effect on the rest of your tattoo’s life. A healing tattoo tends to dry out. At this point it’s important to keep your tattoo moist. A good after care product will help prevent excess scabbing and infection, which can leave your tattoo blemished or scarred. Although some tattooists will recommend different approaches to healing, most will agree on three basic things: keep your tattoo clean, moist and protected from direct sunlight.
Tip: Avoid creams and lotions that contain fragrances, artificial colors and other unnecessary ingredients that can irritate a healing tattoo.
Tip: If you love the sun, make sure you give your tattoo plenty of time to heal before exposing your tattoo to direct sunlight. If you want to get a tattoo while away on a sunny vacation, make sure you do it towards the very end of your trip.
check tattoo johnny, one of the biggest sources of great skin art, for more info.
happy birthday, elvis presley!
january is the month when we are reminded of the good old days of rock n’ roll. elvis’ birthday on the eighth then american idol auditions kick off a few days after that. it is a well-known fact that elvis is the most impersonated celebrity in the world, so it should be no surprise that ai auditions are awash with elvis wannabes who not only attempt to sing his songs, but also try their best to resurrect the swagger and the wardrobe.
it is easy to see that although we remember him best for the music, we remember most how he looks in dazzling white jumpsuits decked to high heavens. from the towering napoleonic collars to the sweeping bell bottoms, the billowing capes to the edwardian cuffs, these suits represented the mania of an entire generation.
do you know that he wore this style in several other colors?
so how much exactly do these costumes factor into elvis’ star quality? a whole darn lot enough for he himself to quip, “if the songs don’t go over, we can do a medley of costumes.”
so i believe now is our chance to give credit where credit is due. at the time when designers and stylists weren’t granted too much publicity to steal the singers’ thunder (as opposed to what’s happening now), when parsons didn’t have project runway yet to make it a household name, one of the design school’s distinctive graduates stepped into the world of music as the creative mind responsible for elvis’ now iconic jumpsuits. meet bill belew, the man behind the design.
aside from elvis, bill belew created outfits and stage costumes for such legends as ella fitzgerald, josephine baker, dionne warwick, gladys knight, brooke shields, gloria estefan, joan rivers, roberta flack, the osmonds and the jackson 5 among many others. click here to read a comprehensive interview with belew.
it is without a doubt that belew’s success in costume design extends much further than the stage on which his clients performed and lasts far longer than the decades when his outfits were all the rage. to this very day, rock n’ roll fans don the frocks for events that include very unrelated occasions. you know, like weddings.
of course, there are still many artists today who pay homage to the king by performing his songs and reworking the designs for their performance.
kurt and bart for britney spears.
bill belew left us two years ago yesterday, january 7, at the age of 78. he joined the king of rock n’ roll a day before the anniversary of his birthday. it was at that time when i was grateful i had faith in an afterlife. so despite the sad news, i thought happily of belew meeting elvis again after 30 years to greet him “happy birthday”.
here is a fitting video tribute to this talented designer. elvis in 54 jumpsuits.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbdXjGMXYWI&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
i know it’s a little late, but i’d also like to say farewell, bill belew. your talent lives on with elvis and rock n’ roll.
elvis presley and bill belew photos from epgold.
Enter your email address:
Delivered by FeedBurner
Subscribe to i am shallow
