A frenetic look into fashion, movies, TV, and post-grad life through the lens of a (slightly sarcastic, slightly self-indulgent) twenty-something year old.
It's official! The 83rd Annual Oscars have their co-hosts. James Franco and Anne Hathaway will be joining each other on stage for the February 27 Academy Awards. Expect plenty of awkward jokes and a musical number or two.
Strange pairing or just a subtle marketing ploy on 20th Century Fox's end? Rumor is that both actors are attached to Ridley Scott's Untitled Alien prequel, with a script penned by Lost's Damon Lindelof.
Either way it's still a little odd. I feel like I've been seeing too much of Anne Hathaway lately, especially after seeing her entirely (and awkwardly) naked in Love and Other Drugs.
I got up at an ungodly hour on the morning of the 20th all in the name of Lanvin. To make matters worse, it was raining, and what was I wearing? A thin leather hoodie, short boots, and I was toting a janky umbrella. Good job! The ONE DAY it rains in southern California, I decide to trek it to my local H&M and wait in line for hours on end for this collection. The good news is that the bf kindly waited with me so I wouldn't have to brave the rain alone and so that I'd have an extra pair of hands. Now that's an amazing man! Not only that, but I dragged the poor boy to Smallgift L.A. the day before to check out Sanrio's 50th Anniversary celebration at Barker Hangar in SaMo. Now that's a keeper!
Bf and I arrived at around 5:50AM with about 100-120 people in front of us. Word is that the first person in line arrived at 5pm (!!) the night before. At around 7am, the sweet H&Mers and concierge at Americana went down the line and handed out coffee, pastries, and free valet until the end of the year. Not too shabby. 20 minutes later, we were given our wristbands with our designated timeslot. Each group of 20 was given a colored wristband, which also indicated the 15 minute interval during which they could shop the collection. We got grouped into the 9:45-10AM timeslot. At around 7:30AM, H&M girls clad in happy Lanvin for H&M tees handed out little giftbags which included the winter H&M mag along with a 100% wool Lanvin for H&M scarf. Now that's a nice touch. I grabbed both mine and bf's scarves and wrapped them around my neck. Whoever said California had lovely weather year round has clearly never woken up early to stand in line, in the friggin' rain, for some sparkly, designer goodies.
H&M security was tight, and very organized. I was definitely impressed with the way things were handled. The back section of the store was roped off for the collection, and they ushered us inside at about 8am to wait. As soon as we got the okay to go inside, it was a mad dash up to the men's section. There was no wait to shop it, and within minutes, it was demolished. H&M employees were hard at work moving in new displays of regular merchandise, and at 20 minutes past 8, you would've never known they carried the men's collection. Totally wiped out. Finito. None left to grab.
While in line, I surveyed the cashwrap and noticed the Lanvin for H&M totes especially designed for UNICEF. I snuck out of line, casually went over to the cashwrap, and discreetly asked for two. By the time I was back in line, I was getting stares, whispers, and finger pointing. These were definitely a group of people who were interested in buying whatever they could get their hands on that had the Lanvin for H&M label on it. It's easy to get into that kind of mentality when you're sleep deprived and in fear that you'll score next to nothing on your wishlist, so you'd pretty much settle for anything. I was keeping my hope alive though. I had one mission: to score two tees, the long fur coat, sunglasses, the turqouise heels, and some lipstick. I was not about to get derailed by a men's bowtie I'd never wear, or a $200 dress with questionable quality. Don't get me wrong, they were beautiful, but just not worth the $200, because at the end of the day, it was still just H&M, and H&M quality. However, at $3.95 a pop, and with 30% going to UNICEF, I couldn't say no to these super adorable, albeit thin, flimsy, totes. Neither could anyone else in line, because within minutes of me returning with the totes, they were all gone. Surprise, surprise.
Fast forward nearly two hours later, and I was finally right outside the roped shopping area. Right as we're about to be let in, the head of security blasts through her loudspeaker that this was all of the collection that was left, and that they wouldn't be replenishing stock. The hipsters behind me in their A Wang tees and bags start to claw to the front of the line. I look over at the bf in horror. This is definitely not my scene, and a little girl like me is not equipped for such madness! After we get the okay from security, bf and I head in. It's such a small shopping area, and 20 people in such a confined space starts making me feel claustrophobic. Bf is calm as a cucumber though, and starts scouring the clothes for my tees. The sunglasses, lipsticks, and shoes were all wiped out. No fur coats either. The first thing I grab are both the tees I originally had my eye on -- the legs t-shirt dress and the tee with three girls. I manage to get my size in the short tee, but I have to settle for a size up in the legs tee dress. The hipsters (note that these are men) manage to grab two, short fur coats out of the hands of an employee who's doing go-backs. Darnit. After fifteen minutes of scurrying (delayed momentarily by a minor freakout on my end because of the vultures who are grabbing and pushing for these clothes like they're free), I head to the dressing room. I managed to grab both tees, along with the embellished blazer (which I wasn't planning on purchasing originally, but it's just so darn pretty in real person), and a pair of patent red pumps. I knew the dressing room was the place to score go-backs, so I headed there in search of the elusive fur coat. While in there, I was admiring the one shoulder, pink dress with exaggerated shoulder, but as soon as I touched it, I had to recoil. It straight up felt like a dyed potato sack. A quick peek inside the garment label -- what do ya know, 100% polyester. These were selling like hotcakes though. Even if you managed to snag a couple of these exclusive dresses, the joke's on you for paying $200 bucks a piece for 100% polyester wares. Seriously though, they're pretty, but they don't feel it. Big disappointment.
While in the dressing room, I did manage to snag the short fur coat in a size too big, but once I got over my initial excitement and tried it on, I realized I looked like Chewbacca had swallowed me whole. Seriously ridiculous. I had to pass. I also had to pass on the heels because damn, they hurt. They HURT. I have been known to sacrifice comfort over beauty for a pair of pretty, sparkly shoes, but these were just unbearable.
So what's in the bag? Two tees, the embellished blazer, and two UNICEF totes. Sadly, I couldn't score the elusive sunglasses, long fur coat, or the lipsticks. I'm keeping hope alive though, and hitting up this H&M for any possible returns! This was my strategy last year for Jimmy Choo x H&M, when I skipped the launch all together and chanced upon a pair of those coveted leather leggings, and at 60% off. Score. All in all, I'm a happy girl and I'm very impressed by the quality of the tees and the blazer. They're probably some of the best out of the collection, quality wise. The details are incredible. I also love the shopping bags that came with this collection. Really adorable. I was really pretty heartbroken that I couldn't score a garment bag though. I guess those are only reserved for the dresses.
So there you have it, my long-winded, retelling of the organized chaos that was this H&M launch. I have to give major props to H&M for having such an organized, orderly method of helping people shop. All in all, I'm pretty satisfied!
Now to the goods!
Pretty, no?
ETA: Just read an article on WWD about Alber Elbaz's secret visit to the H&M flapship store on Madison in NY. He pulled up in his towncar around 8am and watched the madness go down and marveled at how many people had showed up. How adorable is that?
Baz Luhrmann has officially cast Carey Mulligan to play female lead Daisy Buchanan in an upcoming adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic, The Great Gatsby. Also starring is Leonardo DiCaprio who will play the main lead of Jay Gatsby, and it's rumored that Tobey Maguire will play Gatsby's friend, Nick Carraway.
I have a little itty bit of a girl crush on Carey because I think she is such a fantastic, understated actress. And you know what? She's just such a lady. Not too many of those out there in Hollywood today. I think she'd be perfect as Daisy. I can't wait to see how this turns out with Baz at the helm. It's very appropriate, actually. The Great Gatsby is such an iconic, classic literary piece, and the era and social climate it takes place in will look phenomenal on camera. Can't wait for Carey!
Photo credit: Deadline Hollywood. Taken 11/2/10 in NYC during auditions.
ALRIGHT NBC, ABOUT DAMN TIME. Parks & Recreation will finally return on January 20, 2011 at 9:30pm as part of their new Thursday night comedy block. I made a big stink last May during upfronts when NBC decided to push Parks & Rec out of the fall schedule to make room for newcomer Outsourced (which has since received a full season pickup). While NBC assured us all that Parks & Rec would be back during midseason, it was looking a little scary there when Outsourced received its full season pickup. In a move that I doubted NBC had the guts to make, they have subsequently moved 30 Rock from it's 8:30 timeslot to 10pm in order to make room for midseason newcomer Perfect Couples. Outsourced will follow at 10:30pm, and Parks & Rec will enjoy The Office audience spillover at 9:30pm.
I can't say I have forgiven you for all the grievances in the past, NBC, but at least my beloved Parks & Rec has a place somewhere in the Thursday night comedy lineup. If they had put it anywhere else or canceled it altogether, it would be the end of our more-than-rocky relationship, and I may have needed to have gone old-school protest style on them, pitchforks and all.
Here's the full midseason NBC schedule:
MONDAYS 8-9 p.m. - “Chuck” 9-10 p.m. - “The Cape” series premiere with a two-hour episode on Sunday, January 9 (9-11 p.m.). New episodes start in its regular time period on January 17 (9-10 p.m.) 10-11 p.m. - “Harry's Law’ (new series beginning January 17) 9-10 p.m. - “The Event” (returns on February 28, 9-11 p.m.; resumes in its regular time slot March 7) 10-11 p.m. -- “Parenthood” (debuts in this slot March 7 with all originals)
TUESDAYS 8-10 p.m. -- “The Biggest Loser: Couples” (beginning January 4) 10-11 p.m. - “Parenthood” (beginning January 4 for four episodes) 10-11 p.m. -- “Law & Order: Los Angeles” (beginning February 8)
WEDNESDAYS 8-9 p.m. -- “Minute to Win It” (beginning January 5) 9-10 p.m. -“Chase” (beginning January 12) 9-10 p.m. - “America's Greatest Restaurant” (new series beginning March 16) 10-11 p.m. - “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (originals beginning January 5 with two-hour episode, 9-11 p.m. ET)
19 is still on frequent rotation for me on iTunes. I can't wait for Adele's new album, 21, because I'm sure it will be fantastic. 21 releases on February 22, 2011.
Listen to Adele's new single, "Rolling in the Deep". It's lovely.
The Internet has gone Lanvin loves H&M crazy as we all wait with bated breath for the launch. Here are some closer looks from the line (images courtesy of Racked and Mizhattan):
My favorite pieces have to be that yellow one shoulder ruffled dress, the poufed one shoulder dress, both fur coats, the tees, the non-patent heels, the red lipsticks, and the sunglasses. If I just make it out with a tee or two, a pair of those leopard sparkly heeled pumps, the teal trimmed pumps, a pair of sunglasses, and some lipstick, I'll be happy.
All items will come in the packaging pictured. That means shoes and accessories will come in those adorable Lanvin loves H&M boxes and clothes will be zipped up in garment bags upon purchase. Isn't that such a lovely touch? I just hope the quality is up to par with the prices, as this will mark H&M's most expensive designer collaboration yet. As lovely as some of these dresses and tees are and as much I can appreciate the vast differences in price between their namesake brand and this collaboration effort for H&M (that beautiful poufed one shoulder dress normally retails for just under $4k, and the whimsical tees will usually run you about $800), the regular, middle class shopper simply does not have $200-$300 to spend on a dress. So with prices like these can we expect women and resellers to flock in hoards to try and snap these up at H&M's across the U.S. by lining up at 4am? Who knows. I guess we'll have to wait in the cold and see, but thankfully not for as long as we were all anticipating. For the first time since H&M has started their designer collaborations, the stores will open earlier at 8am (rather than 10am) to accommodate the anticipated demand. I have a feeling, despite this economic climate, that these babies will still go like hotcakes.
With the Golden Globes and Screen Actor Guild Awards approaching in January and the Oscars in February, awards season is definitely under way. One of my favorite products from awards season is definitely the roundtable discussions. I'm a geek, I know, but I love watching all of these, and I love watching them in their entirety. They're such interesting, earnest looks into the work of so many great actors and actresses.
This year's Hollywood Reporter Actresses Roundtable includes Helena Bonham Carter (who starred alongside Colin Firth in big awards contender, The King's Speech), Natalie Portman (who has received critical acclaim for her role in The Black Swan), Annette Bening (who co-starred in The Kids Are All Right with the equally amazing Julianne Moore), Nicole Kidman (in the emotionally-jarring, small indie pic Rabbit Hole with Aaron Eckhart), Hilary Swank (in Tony Goldwyn's Conviction), and Amy Adams (who played a supporting role in The Fighter, which also stars Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale).
A little over an hour long, but very interesting. These women are incredible.
Catch a glimpse of what Conan's show will be like with this cute low budget, mini-episode that the folks over at Team Coco cooked up. It features Conan O'Brien (of course), faithful sidekick and announcer, Andy Richter, and guests Jim Parsons and Steel Train, along with a special appearance from a dancing taco.
Who's excited for November 8, 11pm?!
In some related news, GUESS WHO GOT TICKETS TO THE THANKSGIVING TAPING? You probably guessed it by the caps, but ME! I've been doing the happy dance every day since I got the tickets. WOO! This, combined with the upcoming Lanvin for H&M launch? I'll be a very happy a girl! A very happy, albeit poor, girl!
Over the past few weeks we've been getting some sneak peeks of the Lanvin loves H&M line, and now we finally have a full ad campaign and it's delicious! Scroll for the price lists on the full line, to get an idea of how much damage you'll be doing to your wallet on November 20 (launch in North America) or November 23 (launch in the rest of the world).
HERE IT IS, DARLINGS. Christmas has come early. We finally have a full lookbook (and prices!) of the Lanvin loves H&M line and let me tell you: IT IS AMAZING. Just glorious. I've just now stopped hyperventilating. I am so in love it's ridiculous. So what will the damage be come November 20? I don't even want to think about it. I'll just hand over my credit card with eyes closed and just hope for the best. Hope that it doesn't start smoking and hope that it doesn't spontaneously burst on fire.
In all seriousness though, how phenomenal is this collection? This has to be my favorite designer collaboration so far. It's outstanding! When I first got wind of Lanvin's collection for H&M I was highly skeptical, but now I'm totally eating my words, because Alber has really outdone himself. I MEAN LOOK AT THOSE SHOES. Tell me those shoes don't give you shoe envy. Tell me you wouldn't throw a jealous side-eye at some random chick walking down the street in these shoes. Jesus. And for $99? Oh ok, I'll take them all, please! Size 37.5, box 'em up! I'm also lovin' those classic Lanvin tees -- they're so ridiculously girly that it's chic. I seriously can't decide what I love and need, because it seems like I love and need everything. Looks like there will indeed be a throwdown in the accessories aisle in H&M on November 20. Now I'm a girl that always plays nice, but this is an exception. My only gripe is that the jewelry is looking a little weak and we're lacking some Lanvin 'Happy' bag lookalikes and those signature Lanvin ballet flats.
Ok kids, ready? Behold! The Lanvin for H&M women's and men's lookbook. Click to enlarge.
