if I had a British accent....

...so this week the British accent got voted as the worlds most attractive...
that was according to some (silly/fun) poll and hey, it even beat the French accent which was a surprise for many romantics!
I think the British accent is a definite winner but then again I've always had a fascination for all things British...
Some of my favorite foodies are British…Yes! I’d be happy to listen to Nigella Lawson all day long.
I used to read her Vogue column back in the day before she hit our TV screens and her use of the English language to tantalise us with food ingredients is something I admire so much!
Even Jamie Oliver, the crazy, playful and highly energetic celebrity chef we all seem to love is delightful to watch and listen to.
Lately I’ve been obsessed with ‘Great British bake off’ and the soothing, calm voice of baker extraordinaire Paul Hollywood…
There’s no surprise that most of my favorite male actors are British.
Colin Firth …hello!! 
I was hooked on him ever since I watched the BBC series, ‘Pride & Prejudice’ - I've loved him ever since. Hmmm...
Hugh Grant in ‘Notting Hill’ was amazing too, he has not done much lately, but can you remember how great ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ was? everyone was talking about that movie for so long
… both Colin and Hugh in ‘Bridget Jones Diary’ - hilarious…
Ralph Fiennes in the English Patient (and everything else he has starred in)
...and the whole mix of fine British actors in ‘Love Actually’ - one of my favourite British flicks ever.



* Top print image
via Lu Green

Sweet Shirley....

A little tribute post to the child star

Shirley Temple who sadly passed away yesterday.

Her popularity went downhill in Hollywood once once she became a teenager and had outgrown her cute little girl image, but she'll always have a place in my heart!

It appears she went on to have a full-filling life and I must admit I was actually a little surprised she was still alive in 2014!

 It would seem absurd that during the mid 1970’s I was watching movies from the 30’s and 40’s

but growing up,  my sister and I watched many Shirley Temple movies – they used to show old classics every Saturday afternoon on TV and again in the evening when movie buff, 
Bill Collins would screen and host his Movie show - we watched Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, Albert & Costello, Doris Day films (my favourite) and Elvis Presley movies too...
so it was a bit of a tradition to watch the golden oldies every weekend especially if my parents had gone out for the evening and we were at my Grandparents having a sleepover - they'd allow us to stay up late to watch.

I remember Shirley Temple movies bought us so much joy – so entertaining

and full of cute factor!

* little Shirley - sweet as a button
and 'Mamma' Shirley with her own little baby girl
*images via 'Vintage Life'

Daisy

I've been hanging out for Baz Lurhmann's  'The Great Gatsby' , for what seems like ages!
With delays in the release date, a huge blow-out in the film's budget I'm hoping it will be nothing but spectacular!
I love how the Fashion world get behind Baz & Catherine's films - their creative vision and beautiful styling  should be celebrated.
The May issue of US Vogue features Carey Mulligan who stars as Daisy, I'm still waiting for my subscription in the mail, but I've spotted some of the beautiful images by Mario Testino on fashion blogs -  you can see the set  here at the Vogue site.

...I read 'The Great Gatsby'  a couple of years ago - such a fast read,  but I was on holiday...a  beach holiday so had lots of idle time.
I must admit as the story unfolded I found Daisy's character to be very shallow...still,  Gatsby is obsessed with her!
Im hoping movie goers world wide will be obsessed with The Great Gatsby!  

.....The last of the sunshine fell upon her glowing face with romantic affection....

All the Pretty Dresses

Did you enjoy the Academy Awards the other night?  The event itself always drags on
 - I always find the Red Carpet parade a lot more interesting.

So many beautiful dresses this year - the stylists are getting really good at getting it 'perfect' for their star clients ...although there's always one or two shockers coming through..too bad for the fashion designers, the media, blogs and twitter are all out with their opinions - good or bad, dont you just love the internet?
I was suprised to see lots of White frocks this year - its quite stark against the Red Carpet, some gowns looked very 'bridal'...lots of safe looks, lots of messy looks (Helena Bonham Carter, Im looking at you!) and lots of sparkle too -  Naomi Watts in glitzy silver gray  - Amazing!!! I loved it!

* images
top - Elie Saab runway- beautiful fabrics and detail.  Bottom - photo by Judy Pak

Vintage Life: Hollywood Awards Season

Did you all enjoy the Academy Awards the other night?

Hooray for Hollywood!

I always look forward to Award Season -

I don't get to the cinema much these days and I have a ton of movies that I want to watch - the list is growing!

Thought Id share some vintage Hollywood 'Awards Night' Glamour - beautiful, elegant and classy!!

(beats stars like Angelina and her bony knee flash? )

* Natalie Wood & Warren 1962 Academy Awards

Best Movie: West Side Story

*James Dean & Ursula Andress 1955

*Paul & Joanne Newman 1958

Vintage Style Icon: Elizabeth Taylor

...and a little Happy Birthday shout out to Elizabeth Taylor who turned 79 yesterday - i recently read that she is still in hospital and so since today is all about the Oscars, Movies and Hollywood my post is a little tribute to beautiful Elizabeth who is a winner of two Academy Awards herself!

She's definetely one of my vintage style icons with violet eyes that brightend up any screen.

I hope you enjoyed the Oscars! i taped it so I can go back and look at all the gowns again ..some beautiful looks this year and a huge congratulations to Colin Firth (swoon swoon) so deserving!




* all vintage images from google images *

The Slip Dress
so i mentioned earlier that I recently watched 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'...i loved it and
Maggie, Elizabeth Taylor's character, who is SO beautiful only had 3 wardrobe changes in the entire movie!
a skirt and blouse
a white party dress
and for the bedroom scene, a simple white slip dress

of course these days we get to wear the slip dress anywhere we please! how lucky are we??
Thanks for the inspiration Maggie!

top image: Steven Meisel

Bottom: Scott Schuman

Style Icon - Natalie Wood
one of the most beautiful ladies of old Hollywood...
her life cut tragically short by her mysterious drowning at only 43 years of age...so young!

Silver Screen Sirens

I spotted this stunning red Christian Dior number and it instantly reminded me of sultry Screen Sirens and old Hollywood.
Looking back at classic black & white studio shots its hard to think that these glamour girls were so young, they look so grown up and sophisticated....
vintage photos have that sense of Romance...
Such a difference compared to today, where looking youthful seems to be the main priority in Hollywood and sadly everyday life!

I have a long list of favourites screen sirens,
what about you, whose your favourite?

Red Dress and Nails from Christian Dior on Style.com
Screen Siren images - Lauren Bacall,
Gene Tierney and Lorretta Young
all from Flickr.com