SATURDAY SHOW ♥ NINA DONIS FALL 2012

Remember when I did a post on designer Nina Donis and her collection which is shown normally in Russia? I got such a great response from that and so I was super excited when I saw that Russian Vogue had made a video for her latest FALL WINTER 2012/2013 COLLECTION. It's really lovely. I dunno. I think there's something very modern here. It's like Norma Kamali in the year 2025 (reference to Visage). See for yourself.....♡

more saturday ♥ lip cream candle

♥ GIRL FRIDAY ♥ STYLIST MASAYO KISHI & HER JUNKO SHIMADA STORY ♥

I have been dying to have one of my favorite stylist and friends, MASAYO KISHI, be a part of Nancy Girl...well, now she is! She offered a very gorgeous story about JUNKO SHIMADA, and I took it! If you're in the industry and looking for genius stylists, she's someone to keep at the top of your list...enjoy! CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM...it's worth it!♡

INTERVIEW WITH JUNKO SHIMADA 

Inspiration for design 

Chinos are what General of The Army Douglas MacArthur used to wear. Shirts from the Army, uniforms from Pan Am airlines and French marine hats. I usually get inspired from traditional items. Textiles for marine looks, gingham checks and stripes are Junko Shimada's basic look. I also use a lot of snake prints. I believe that snakes protect our lives and homes from evil spirits which are ancient beliefs.

In Paris

When I arrived in Paris, it was right in the middle of French New Wave: Jeanne Moreau, who played Elevator to the Gallows, Anita Ekberg, in La Dolce Vita, especially the love scene at the Trevi Fountain with Marcello Mastroianni and Monica Vitti in The Eclipse who performed with Alain Delon.  They are perfect for Junko Shimada.

Photographers

After being in this industry for decades, I have two favorites that I have worked with. One is Guy Bourdin who shot numerous iconic pictures with a french essence.  Sometimes eccentric yet strong and sexy. The other is Arthur Elgort who is strong but a different type of atmosphere from Guy within natural light. He surely understands women and extracts sophisticated beauty.

What is your future and expectation after 30 years of working in fashion?

I always believe that I will make better clothes tomorrow.

Collage and Interview Credits

Illustration: Tsuyoshi Hirano
Art works: Kazunori Izumiya
Contributor: Naohiro Tanaka 

Fashion Story Credits

Photography: Makoto Nakagawa

Styling: Masayo Kishi

Hair: Matsukaz (3rd)

Make up: Sadafumi Ito (Nars)

Models:

Iryna R .@Bravo Models 　

Magda S. @Stage Tokyo Model Agency

more girl friday ♥ curly girl

♥ AN ANNOUNCEMENT! \m/ ARCADIA \m/ ♥

Here it is! The VERY FIRST OFFICIAL BOOK TRAILER FOR MY NEW NOVEL...ARCADIA! It comes out this Summer! If you want to watch it on YouTube (highly recommended...with headphones on and the volume LOUD), go to the official ARCADIA YOUTUBE CHANNEL and subscribe!

Sign up for Twitter and for now, go to MOREISALLYOUNEED.COM for updates (don't forget to follow the Tumblr page). The official website will launch very soon. But for not it is forwarding to the Tumblr Arcadia News/Updates page.

Spread the word...embed the video on your blogs! Let me know if you like the book trailer! This has been a long long process...but it's time to set it free......

ARCADIA

a METAL novel by

MANDANA TOWHIDY

SUMMER 2012

The kick ass book cover was designed by my good friend
Christopher Bettig !

You can also visit maybeparade.com for updates on the book and other books coming out on maybeparade.

email contact(at)moreisallyouneed.com or longhairrocksagain(at)gmail.com for any info you need. You can also contact info(a)maybeparade.com!

TWITTER

TUMBLR

YOUTUBE

MOREISALLYOUNEED.COM

SPREAD THE WORD...LONG HAIR ROCKS AGAIN! xxxmt

WED BAG ♥ STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM

OMG I am loving this STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM COIN PURSE by an Etsy designer called MISALA. In fact, this designer on Etsy has so many adorable things, you could do some of your Christmas shopping right NOW if you wanted to...I know it's summer. But who knows if you'll be able to find a cute coin purse like this again!? It's around $17 USD.♡

more wednesday bag ♥ rice and beans vintage

TUES TAILOR ♥ SPECIAL GUEST AMY DAVIS

The one and only AMY DAVIS has done something I could only dream of for my blog! She has illustrated a couple of Spring looks for NANCY GIRL! If you haven't read about her...check out this post....and all the "many" links (the word "many" is linked go to older posts about Amy and her creative hubby Jon)...but in a nutshell...I used to collect her illustrated STYLE FIENDS fashion columns in Paper magazine. And then when I took up a PR gig as a college job while getting my journalism degree, I got to actually meet her because the company was making T-shirts with her designs. I was so geeked out. :) I asked her to sign a poster for me. Now, years later, she is one of my biggest supporters and a dear friend. And she is drawing for my blog!!! :)♡

Okay...below is from AMY DAVIS (don't forget to pay attention to the makeup...Amy is genius with that!):

 ONE GIRL NAMED TRIXXIE. TWO LOOKS.

UPTOWN VS DOWNTOWN.

UPTOWN

UPTOWN LOOK:

Lace jeweled dress by DOLCE&GABBANA

Rose and jeweled drop earrings by PRADA

Gloves by PROENZA SCHOULER

Icey pink spiked pumps by MAX KIBARDIN

Clutch by ROGER VIVIER

Scent CHANEL#28 La Pausa

MAKEUP

LIPSTICK in PINK PIGEON by IRIS APFEL for MAC

MASCARA by LANCOME HYPNOSE DRAMA INSTANT FULL BODY VOLUME MASCARA in "EXCESSIVE BLACK" (talk about an EXCESSIVE title YO!)

EYESHADOW by MAYBELLINE EYE STUDIO COLOR TATTOO 24HR EYESHADOW in PAINTED PURPLE

CHEEKS AURA MULTI USE STICK in CRUSH by VAPOUR ORGANIC BEAUTY

TOENAIL POLISH in PINK RIBBON by BUTTER LONDON

DOWNTOWN

 

DOWNTOWN LOOK:

TOP and SKIRT and HOLSTER by JEREMY SCOTT

toy gun models own...heehhehe

TOTE BAG by MOSCHINO

Socks and DUSTY MUD STAINED BOOTS by dsquared

Snake earring by YAZBUKEY

Shell and coral earring by PATRIZIA PEPE

Scent KILLIAN in The End

MAKEUP 

LIPSTICK in OH NO SHE DID'NT by LIME CRIME

EYESHADOW in "FUSCHIA HOT PINK" by BLOODY MARY'S

LIQUID EYELINER in 40GE by YSL

POWDER in REALIST X (mineral primer) by WELL PEOPLE

HAIR DYE by MANIC PANIC in ELECTRIC LIZARD+ COTTON CANDY+PLUM PASSION mixed with hair conditioner (yr choice) to get that pale pastel EASTER EGG look

HAIR GEL...ORGANIC EGG WHITES(5)

SUNTAN LOTION by COPPERTONE WATER BABIES FOAMING LOTION in SPF#75

NAIL POLISH in PLUM by RGB

more tuesday tailor ♥ peter jensen fall 2012

images courtesy of amy davis for nancy girl :) (thanks, lady!)

MAKEUP MONDAY ♥ CANDY COLOR EYES

I wouldn't necessarily be able to wear the look Lisa Eldridge creates in this video using candy color shadows nor would I wear it if I could...because I'm not a pale blonde girl from Holland. But as a magazine editor and art director and someone who loves pop culture and style, I love this model she has used so much and I love the gorgeous look she gives her. Amazing. Someone on YouTube called Lisa Eldridge the "Mary Poppins of Makeup" and I agree. I love it so much. It's like she made it just for my blog. ;)♡

more makeup monday ♥ peachy keen

MAKEUP MON ♥ MORE CURRENT FAVORITES

I've been trying out some new foundation...and I am blown away at the technology of the product. I have a couple of samples of Chanel's Lift Lumière. I didn't like Perfection Lumière. I wanted to. But it reeked of perfume and didn't sit well on my skin and was really weird after a few hours. So I didn't expect to like Lift Lumière. I think Lift Lumière is for more mature skin. But I've been taking care of my skin (well, I've been using good product...I would say being a sun bunny especially in my teens and 20s does not make me someone who took good care of her skin) for a long time, and there's no reason why you can't use a product for something that hasn't happened yet. It's prevention. And I have drier skin anyway. I am in love and blown away. My skin looks amazing and the foundation looks like skin and it lasts all day! The only thing is, the color sample I have is like the lightest shade, I think...IVOIRE I think is the name. I am not a super pale blonde girl. I have olive skin on the lighter side and brown hair. So I don't know why IVOIRE works. Today I decided to try the other shade they gave me...SOFT BISQUE which seems way too pink in the bottle. I don't think I love it as much as IVOIRE. I think I want to also try the color CLAIR. It's called the Lift Lumière Smoothing and Firming Fluid Makeup and it has an SPF of 15. See it here. I am going to try a couple more of the new Chanel foundations and I'll review them for you, too, after I've tried them out. 

Now onto some other drugstore finds that I am obsessed with...

First are those Maybelline Color Tattoo cream/gel eyeshadows. They're so RICH. I especially love one called Pomegranate Punk. It's like an expensive cranberry rich sparkly thing. I have green or hazel eyes depending on what they feel like being. This kind of color makes them look even more green. Plus, this is the kind of shade you'd find in Tom Ford's collection. It's very 70s disco wine. I have 4...Bad to the Bronze (stupid name...sounds cheap) and Tough as Taupe (which is good) and the reddish one I already mentioned. And then I have Too Cool, which I thought would be like a highlighter. But it's too white. I dunno. I could have done without it. I can't wait to see what new colors they (hopefully) come out with next. They're a realllly good product for the price, especially. ♡

maybelline color tattoo eyeshadow in pomegranate punk

maybelline color tattoo eyeshadow in bad to the bronze

tough as taupe...this color was so hard to get. it was always sold out.

too cool...wasn't so cool.

more makeup monday ♥  monotone romantics (i love this photoshoot so much)

SUNDAY MATINEE ♥ 60S FASHION

I love the girls in these films. Though, just warning you, there are a lot of political things going on in the films...specifically the feminist movement...it was the 60s after all. But strange interesting videos, nevertheless.

The below one must be from a film...but the costumes and makeup and everything is good...very MOD. And the singer or whatever looks a lot like Lana Del Rey.

PS Are you following me on twitter? The link is on the side...and have you clicked on the flashing A? That takes you to the news page for my novel...I'm going to start promoting it soon. Wish me luck! xxx♡

more sunday matinee ♥ the model agency

SAT SHOW ♥ YSL @ DENVER ART MUSEUM

Those lucky lucky Colorado kids. I haven't even seen this YVES SAINT LAURENT RESTROSPECTIVE...the one that debuted in Paris in say 2010...and now the kids in Colorado (Colorado!!!) are able to go see this amazing exhibition of the master's doings. A show like this could really actually change someone's life...meaning, they could be so inspired as to pursue something they've always wanted to. Very very amazing. Bravo to the Denver Art Museum people who worked it out for those Denver fashion lovers! Like the press release says: PARIS. MADRID. DENVER! YSL THE RETROSPECTIVE opens March 25, 2012 at the Denver Art Museum. http://ysldenver.com♡

Yves Saint Laurent, Short cocktail dress, Tribute to Tom Wesselmann, haute couture collection, Fall-Winter 1966. Purple-and-black wool jersey, encrusted “face” motif.

 

 

Yves Saint Laurent, Long evening dress, haute couture collection, Fall-Winter 1990. Black sequined lace and pink satin ribbon bows.

 

 

Yves Saint Laurent, Short evening coat, haute couture collection, Spring-Summer 1971. Green fox fur.

Yves Saint Laurent, Long evening dress, Tribute to Tom Wesselmann, haute couture collection, Fall-Winter 1966. Navy blue wool jersey, encrusted “silhouette” motif.

Yves Saint Laurent, Long evening ensemble, haute couture collection, Fall-Winter 1976. Emerald and sable velvet bolero; peacock blue-and-gold chiffon; Prussian blue Ottoman skirt.

more saturday shopping ♥ sacred space spray

GIRL FRIDAY ♥ MATERIAL GIRL

Wow. I love this issue of Material Girl. I can't get or find this magazine in the States. But I did see a couple of issues at the last agency I was at because the lovely lady in charge of images knew of it and ordered a few. It's even cooler in person than it is online. I just noticed they are pushing the latest/new issue. Look at how cool they did this young nun story. It's gorgeous. I am going to try to get this issue or get a subscription somehow so it's not a million dollars. Or maybe someone reading this is somewhere where it's easy to get one and I can send some money over to get it for me. I heart it so so much. These are the magazines I would love to cover my novel (which we start promoting soon!!! eeeks! and YIPPEEE!)...Material Girl and Lula and Oh Comely and Pig mag and The Gentlewoman (I just saw the Christy Turlington is on the current issue's cover with a caption that reads, "OH WOW"...which was my thought exactly!)...I know most people in PR and esp fashion PR leap right over at the bigger/mass market publications. But, for anything really good, that's like a big no-no. Unless you're already the shit like Louis Vuitton or something. For new things, I think it's always better to come up from the cool smaller places. I think that'll give something a load more cred. But, hey...if someone massive wants to cover my book...ALL THE BETTER!♡

really amazing. like the flying nun (which was a comedy tv show before our time...like the 60s)

i always love how they do their accessory stories.

look at the gorgeous makeup!

close up

more girl friday ♥ model claudia devlin (who reads this blog :)

THURS SHOE ♥ ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS

These sort of very Hermes (the god, not the fashion house) gold Greek sandals made by ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS (they're called the IKARIA sandal) are pretty amazing. They cost around $250, which isn't bad if they are made well and will last you as long as you can wear them. I really love these little winged sandals. Why hasn't anyone made some winged Greek sandals to wear before? Available here. (These are sold out on the Colette site!)♡

i love those diagonal straps. perfect.

more thursday shoe ♥ spring stripes

WED BAG ♥ LOUBOUTIN ANNIVERSARY BAG

I rarely put anything Louboutin on here. Not because I hate Louboutin. But everyone wearing the same Louboutin heels gets kind of...played. But I JUST did a post on that crazy amazing striped Armadillo Bride heel (that I SO SO SO SO want) and I felt I had to do something on this CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN 20TH ANNIVERSARY "ARTEMIS PARIS" EMBELLISHED-SHOULDER BAG. It is amazing and everything I love. First, it's simple. Not huge. Second, I love that shoulder pad with the crystallized scene of PARIS! See the detail below. Oh I love this bag so much. And I wish I could have it (along with that little Mini Lin Speedy by Louis Vuitton!). The Louboutin bag is....around $4000(US)!♡

terrible photo and outfit...from net-a-porter! but you can see how the bag works here.

more wednesday bag ♥ giant double hearts

TUESDAY TAILOR ♥ HEDI GOES TO YSL

WOOHOO...I mean, it is good news to hear that boy wonder (or man wonder) Hedi Slimane is headed off to YSL...though, I don't understand where Stefano is going. He did a great job. Hopefully he's headed off to something new and fantastic. I remember eons ago...in the early 2000's if that was possible, when I was writing for a bunch of magazines including Anthem (which I think is still around). It was a great time to be writing for tastemaker publications and Anthem was at the top of the basket. Anyway...I distinctly remember the day the editors and publishers were giddy that news had come from France that rockstar creative head for Dior Homme, Hedi, was a huge fan of the magazine and wanted to contribute...so they gave him an entire issue. Now, I don't have the issue with me...and I couldn't find it online. But it did happen. Hedi back then was something amazing and fresh to us as was Raf. These days they're moguls practically...everyone knows who they are and what they are doing. And good for them. I can't wait to see what Hedi does with YSL. He's a magic maker. I mean, he really brought back slim suits and ties and short hair back in the day with Dior Homme...I think he relaunched a major man tailored look. But I gotta say...I love Stefano for making those lovely YSL cutout/paperdoll pendants. And those python wedges....

Since I couldn't find one pic of that Anthem Hedi issue...I decided to showcase the photographs he did recently of Daphne Groeneveld for Vogue Russia (you know how much I heart Russian Vogue!)...They are gorrrrgeous. And so so Hedi.♡

more tuesday tailor ♥ giles fall winter 2011