The Religion of Bruce Bacca. Based On Die Hard, Bruce Willis & A Chewbacca Mask.

First off, I realize I've recently posted many things related to Star Wars. It's just a coincidence and no, this is not a Star Wars blog (although I am a huge fan). That said, thanks to Upper Playground, I have learned about this very unique experience taking place in San Francisco, opening tonight and continuing through December 26th.

Friday December 10th at 7pm marks the opening of the Bruce Bacca Pop-Up Church, a unique artistic ideology by Alexander Tarrant, at 248 Fillmore St., San Francisco.

Like the earth itself, it took 7 days to construct this church and it’s vague system of beliefs based on the 1988 film Die Hard, it’s mythical leading man Bruce Willis, and an exquisitely carved wooden Chewbacca Mask (shown below, courtesy of the Citrusreport.com).



Churchgoers will want to bring their cameras to capture the moment they walk the carpeted broken glass gauntlet, wear the wooden mask, and become an indoctrinated member of this temporary system of worship.


above: Bruce Willis in the 1988 action flick, Die Hard.

Following the dry baptism, available for $10 is the short(er) film “Incident at Nakatomi” – a pious remastering of the classic film Die Hard (1988) in which the image and voice of Bruce Willis has been completely removed. The resulting film is introspective and thought provoking, yet still contains enough explosive excitement to keep even the most discerning action fan satisfied.

The church will be open from December 10th – 26th, and will be performing the civic duty of holding a soup kitchen on Christmas Day.

Celebrity Style for less - Odette Yustman

'Cloverfield' actress Odette Yustman attended the GQ Men of the Year party in Los Angeles on November 18 and she did so in fine style.

Odette brought some sparkle to the black carpet in her gorgeous Alice + Olivia Aubrey Sequin Skirt Bustier Dress, which she combined with a black blazer and black booties.

photo courtesy justjared.com

If you're a fan of Odette's party look, here's how to get it for less.

Caslon Chiffon Tier Tank

Price: US$39.00


Blaque Label Disco Ball Silver Sequin Mini Skirt
Price: US$63.00

Silence & Noise Boyfriend Blazer

Price: US$78.00

Jones New York Deirdra Bootie

Price: US$69.00

Ad Agency TBWA Chiat Day Celebrates Creativity With 5353 MUSIC\ART\FEST

If you thought that über cool and award-winning advertising for such clients as Nissan, Gatorade, VISA and Pedigree was the only thing to come out of the cool looking building by architect Clive Wilkinson located on 5353 Grosvenor Avenue, wait until you see what other talents are possessed by those employed at one of Los Angeles' hottest and hippest ad agencies, TBWA/Chiat/Day.




Across the entire agency are painters, photographers, fashion designers, poets, sculptors and musicians who will be sharing their works in the Southern California sunshine to the strains of some of LA's best local bands tomorrow, September 16th from 12-4 pm in the parking lot of the world-famous ad agency.


The featured bands include BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, DJ JAYANTA, FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS, FOOL’S GOLD, LOCAL NATIVES amongst others.


The myriad of art will include photography, paintings, installations, video art and much more.


Food, too! The Greasy Weiner and Kogi truck will be at the festival from 12-2pm providing delicious food.Yum!

The 5353 MUSIC\ART\FEST is a celebration of the creative culture at the agency and the people who make it.

Learn more about it here.

London Fashion Weekend 2010

So, I went to London Fashion Weekend last weekend and since it was my second time attending a major London fashion event (the other was Clothes Show Live), I was excited to see what it was all about.

As you all may have realized by now, I do love a good shopping deal and the outfit I wore to the show was comprised of items I picked up from various places at bargain prices.

Below is what I wore to the show - a blue Jacques Vert blouse that I picked up at a car boot sale for 50p, a red Hobbs skirt that was on sale for £19, a black belt that came with a top I bought from New Look and an Aldo necklace that was on sale with a 'two for the price of one' offer (I also got the black and silver version).


(Please excuse the facial expression - I wasn't even a little ready for that photo and sadly, it was the best one of the bunch.)




Even though the designer label prices at London Fashion Weekend were heavily discounted, I had a hard time finding items that I liked, were my size and were in my budget range. However, I did manage to pick up this SS08 Luella T-shirt for £25 which I think is really adorable.





What I was looking forward to more than anything else was the catwalk presentation and with looks from designers such as Betty Jackson, Herve Leger, Jasper Conran and Twenty8Twelve, I was not disappointed.

The show was presented by fashion journalist and TV presenter Louise Roe and was a compilation of designer looks from the SS10 runways which reflect some of the biggest trends of the season. Below are a few videos I made of the runway shows.

The first trend to hit the runway was 'Candy Rock' - soft, pastel colours and light, airy fabrics and romantic silhouettes. Featured designers included Jasper Conran, Herve Leger and Jaeger.






The second trend was Swallows & Amazons - described as 'Arthur Ransome meets Tim Burton', this trend 'combines layered mismatched pieces of luxe and denim with classic nautical tailoring and gothic leather'. Featured designers included Twenty8Twelve, Eley Kishimoto and Vivienne Westwood.





The final trend covered was Vintage Glamour - elegant, timeless vintage pieces that would fit seamlessly in the modern fashion world. Featured designers included Ossie Clarke, Zandra Rhodes and Biba.





We also got the pleasure of viewing Betty Jackson's entire Spring/Summer 2010 collection which was feminine, flirty and perfect for the upcoming warm weather.

Fashion Fusion Expo 2010

Fashion Fusion Expo, a brand new London fashion event, will be held on March 12 & 13, 2010 at the Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London. This event will raise consumer awareness about fashion and sustainability with a theatrical line up of catwalk shows, expert hosted seminars and exclusive fashion shopping opportunities.

Stamo

This event will showcase the very best talents in sustainable fashion and accessories design from all around the world and it aims to attract 6000 visitors to show fashion can be both sustainable and stylish.

Nikolo Bertok

Christina Curry, model and presenter, is to introduce the Expo’s catwalk shows. Christina shares "I'm thrilled to be working with Fashion Fusion, and strongly believe in their mission to make the public more aware of sustainable fashion. I love quirky clothes from high street to vintage as much as the next girl but Fashion Fusion is opening up exciting new doors to ethnic prints, diverse styles, and the next wave of hot young designers at the same time as bringing the ethics of consumer fashion to the forefront!” Christina adds “Sustainable fashion needs to be the focus for the future and Fashion Fusion Expo 2010 will be the event to place it in the spotlight."

Choolips

With something for every taste and budget, the show offers a mixture of high street names, boutique brands, vintage inspirations, designer collections and individual labels for true fashion lovers. The fashion buying public will also get the chance to watch four exclusive catwalk shows each day, coupled with a great line up of expert seminars to learn more about the exciting world of sustainable fashion.

Juzi

Designers and exhibitors for Fashion Fusion Expo include:

Stamo - http://www.stamo.co.uk

Julia Smith - http://www.juliasmithfashion.co.uk

Juzi - http://www.juzionline.com

Trousers London - http://www.trouserslondon.co.uk

Choolips - http://www.choolips.com

NV London Calcutta - http://www.nvlondoncalcutta.com

Andaluss - http://andaluss.com

Nkya Designs - http://www.nkyadesigns.com

Side Effects - http://sideeffectsoflondon.co.uk

Asakeoge - http://www.asakeoge.com

Julia Smith

Opening times for Fashion Fusion Expo are 9am - 7pm each day and tickets are only £10 when ordered online at http://fashionfusionexpo.eventbrite.com, £8 for students and £15 at the door.

On March 13, there will also be an after party at Cafe de Paris, 3-4 Coventry Street, London.

Show your support for these up-and-coming designers by attending this fantastic event and also by passing this information on to any fellow fashion-lovers that may be interested in attending Fashion Fusion Expo.

For more information, visit http://www.fashionfusionexpo.co.uk.

Relocation, Relocation

Hey everyone,

My sincerest apologies for being completely MIA over the past few months. At first, this absence began out of lack of inspiration, and then I was busy working on a mural for a preschool which took up all my time and energy.

However, I have some big news I must share with you! I relocated from Barbados to England on November 21 and I've been completely wrapped up in the chaos of settling into a new country.

While this new environment is completely different from the one I grew up in, it's so exciting to experince something new and interesting. It's been quite an adjustment particularly in terms of my wardrobe as many of the clothes I wore in Barbados were suited for tropical weather and are pretty impractical in the cold winter weather. I've had a chance to do some shopping for a few winter wardrobe essentials (coat, jumpers, boots etc.) but it's very basic so far.

In the short time I've been here, I have managed to explore quite a bit and I try to capture memories wherever I go. So far, the only photographic device I have had access to is my mobile phone but I've been making it work.

I attended the Clothes Show Live fashion exhibition in Birmingham on December 5 and it was a really fantastic event. Not only was it full of tons of discounted shopping deals, there was also plenty of entertainment in the form of fashion shows. It was my first time attending any fashion event of that scale and I was especially excited since it was my first time attending a designer fashion show. It was completely exhilarating watching the amazing designs of Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano, Dolce & Gabbana, Jean Paul Gaultier among others sashay down the runway.

Tomorrow, I plan to go to the Fashion & Textile Museum in London and I'll make sure to take some photos to share with you!

If any of you readers have any suggestions for any other great places to visit in England, I would really appreciate them. Thanks a lot!

Also, take a look at this lovely, atmospheric video of the Chanel Spring/Summer 2010 Details. Love, love, love!!

Float like a Fashionable Butterfly

Butterflies are exquisite, beautiful creatures and the butterfly motif is a perfect addition to the summer wardrobe. The butterfly is symbolic of many good things to various people such as love, freedom, rebirth, and good luck - all great things to feel and experience when summer comes around.

photo courtesy ces.ncsu.edu

When it comes to fashion, the butterfly motif can be interpreted in ways that caters either to those with extravagant tastes or those who prefer things a bit more subtle.

For me, the allure of the butterfly is in the subtlety of its thin delicate wings, the eye-catching designs and colours on its wings and the graceful, playful way it flies through the air. Any fashion piece that I wear which features the butterfly's likeness should reflect these qualities.

On the other hand, Mariah Carey, who is well known for her butterfly obsession, simply prefers her butterflies shiny and bedazzled.

photos courtesy nimony.com and eurweb.com

My feelings towards butterflies haven't ventured into obsession zone but I definitely have a love for them. When I was a child, there was an area behind my house where an abundance of gorgeous butterflies would gather and I would spend long hours observing and playing with them. Unfortunately, this area was cleared some time later and I haven't seen such a large group of butterflies since. In fact, I'm lucky if I even see one. Butterflies are much like rainbows for me. They are such amazing, lovely creations that I rarely get the chance to see, so I can't help but smile and feel a sense of happiness when I do.

The pretty and playful butterfly motif was featured in the Spring/Summer 09 collections of designers like Badgley Mischka, Collette Dinnigan and Diane von Furstenburg (below).

photos courtesy style.com

These two ladies (below) who attended this year's Royal Ascot races proudly displayed their love for butterflies where everyone could easily see it - on their heads.

photos courtesy dailymail.co.uk

Below are some cute, stylish butterfly options that will have you set for the summer.

Take Flight Butterfly Ring in Gold
Price: US$12.00



Bold Butterfly Plaid Dress
Price: US$22.80

Cocoon - Butterfly Hair Comb
Price: US$35.00

Butterfly Belt
Price: UK£15.00 (US$24.63)

Truly Madly Deeply Butterfly Wing Burnout Racerback
Price: US$19.99

Asos Statement Cut-Out Butterfly Short Pendant
Price: UK£8.00 (US$13.68)

Underwire Ruffle Top & Ruffle Hipster
Price: US$24.50 each

Galleria Tiffany Butterfly Tote
Price: US$40.00

Birthday Spots and Stripes

I didn't get to go out on my birthday last weekend because I was feeling quite under the weather (great timing huh? Sheesh!), so I went out this Saturday instead with my mother and sister for dinner and a round of mini-golf. Here's the outfit I wore:

Vintage Leopard Print Dolman Sleeve Blouse - Etsy, Brown Cinch Belt - Thrifted, Black Cami - Unknown, Pinstriped Full Skirt - Express, T-Bar Sandals - Old Navy

Oh yeah, I got a fringe cut a few weeks ago and it was a spur of the moment decision actually. I was flipping through an old magazine that my hairdresser had in the room and I saw a model with a fringed hairdo which I thought looked cool so I decided I'd get one as well. Unfortunately, it looks a little weird in the pic below because the wind was blowing it out all night.




When it comes to birthday gifts, people tend not to know what to get me unless I let them know specifically, so most just usually end up giving me money - which, of course, is A-OK with me!

After a very long, seemingly hopeless search for affordable shoes in my size (11/12) that I actually like, I finally found these two pairs which I purchased with the money I received. Can't wait till they arrive!

Nine West Women's Lahdidah Shootie
Price: US$56.90

Fitzwell Fanny
Price: US$69.00

I am also eagerly anticipating the arrival of some recently purchased items from Love Colour- Love Tights (Thanks Marian!), Etsy and Ebay - here are a few of my favourite purchases below.

Pleated Bolero from konane

Vintage Griffin Belt Buckle from 5andDime

Black Long Drapey Open-front Thingie from cotton fields

Floral and Striped Tights from Love Colour, Love Tights.

Vintage Diamond-Shaped Sunglasses from Forever Vintage Sunglasses

Woohoo! I love birthdays, especially milestones like the 21st. Hopefully people will still care about me this much when I'm 30.

Speaking of caring, I can always count on my lovely friends in the blogosphere to make me feel appreciated. I recently received the Cute's Blogger and the Your Blog is Fabulous awards from Hiking in Stilettos and Searching the Inner Me, respectively. Thanks so much ladies!

Cute's Blogger and Your Blog is Fabulous Rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2.Nominate at least 10 blogs which you think are fabulous.
3Be sure to link your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received the award.

For these awards, I nominate:

Style Spot, The House of Style, Walking in Midgie's Boots, The Ongoing Project, Vain and Vapid, We Wear Things, With Love..., Wendiva, Africana in Atlanta, All in your Innerspace, Along the Shore, Aphex Nation, Asian Cajuns, Budget Chic, I Am Style-ish, Femme Rationale, Dapper Kid

You can pick one or have 'em both!

P.S Don't feel obligated to pass on these awards, especially if you've already received them.

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend, take care!