TIM BURTON/HALLOWEEN.

Usually, I love Halloween.  Or at least all the hype that surrounds it. I love horror movies, skeletons, all kinds of ghosts and ghouls and, of course, sugar, and lots of it.  This year was rather dull, but that's another story.

Over the past few days, I’ve begun to think about how fashion can totally be inspired by monsters.  A couple of days before the actual holiday (which is a Sunday, as I sit here and write this) I attended a Tim Burton themed Halloween party, and it got me thinking about how much I love the aesthetics of the characters in these films. Their gigantic hair, dramatic makeup and thoroughly fabulous get-ups.  Personally, I chose to disguise myself as Beetlejuice for the occasion, and enjoyed every second of it in my silky striped shirt from H&M, black tights (which I shredded the hell out of) and crazy purple and green eye makeup, even applying lashings of talcum powder to my backcombed hair. 

Black is undoubtedly my favourite colour to wear, and I simply adore the costumery in Tim Burton masterpieces such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands and Sweeney Todd, to name just a few.  In 2009, the Tim Burton-inspired fashion editorial featured in Harper’s Bazaar blew my mind, and I cannot help but love every single delightfully dark ensemble which I saw.  Why can’t everyone dress like this?

Tim Burton- I love you.  An unlikely fashion icon by all accounts, but an icon all the same.

all photo credits to Harper's Bazaar.

Hallow-WOW

For the boils and ghouls across the Blogoverse, the illustrious Witching Hour draws closer. As night falls, legions of sugar-addled children will take to the streets in all manner of drugstore costumes with one goal in mind: to purge the streets of health-conscious fare in favour of sweet confections.

I cannot begrudge them for their labour.

Of course, the adults take their own spoils from the night as well. I know I am not charting new ground when I say Hallowe'en = sexy times for the older crowd, but the vast array of outfits tailored for the night staggers me. All manner of costume can (and will) be modified for sexiness.

For example:

Sexy Pirates

High adventure, low necklines, ample booty

Sexy Devils

Eternal damnation in hooker boots

Sexy Insects

Darwin never accounted for this evolution

Sexy Beer Gardens

Because beer and lesbians were made for each other

Sexy Asylum Patients

Well, lock me up and throw away the key -- we're getting crazy sexy now

Sexy Graduates

That's "Baccalaureate," b*tch.

Sexy Offensive Stereotypes

Because, really, it speaks for itself.

Sexy Pianos

Nothin' hotter than anthropomorphized musical instruments, ladies.

Sexy Skunks

... And I don't want to joke about the strong, foul-smelling odour...

Sexy Nuns

We could all use some buxom in our blasphemers

Sexy Vader...?

... and we're done.

Happy Hallowe'en, all.

IFOA Finale

Lo, we find ourselves at the end of the International Festival of Authors. One last night of writers, publishers, and award celebrations awaits, but I am all volunteered out (according to the schedule, at least). I rocked a double-shift yesterday, and am still all fizzy and fabulous in the aftermath. So, here it is: the final IFOA post of the season.

Shift the First: 9:30 AM - 1 PM

Morning shifts cater to YoungIFOA programming, a series designed for Toronto students and the authors who focus on YA genres. It was the first and only shift I took on for the young'uns, and it was a great deal of fun. I admit, I'm still a relative noob when it comes to YA titles. When I was in that grade 6-8 stretch, YA novels were not terribly cool. I wanted to skip over it all, and embed myself firmly in adult fiction. Perhaps it was arrogance, perhaps it was connected to the limited selection available in the nineties -- in either case, I stand corrected in the face of current writers.

I was invited to sit in for the readings, and I was thrilled to see how receptive the kids were. Australian writer Rebecca James, author of Beautiful Malice, proved to be the crowd favourite with her debut novel about toxic friendships and two histories of violence. Alice Kuipers, author of The Worst Thing She Ever Did, offered excellent insight on her own writing process, and read from her aforementioned novel that deals with the death of the character's sibling. I know, the material is quite dark -- but both authors were excited about their work and, most of all, they were excited to get the kids writing. Excellent advice, if I do say so myself.

Shift the Second: 7:15 PM - 11 PM

Despite the big names scheduled for the evening's readings, the book selling area was quite subdued. I imagine burnout is the culprit, but I was still bubbling with anticipation. I buzzed around the Brigantine Room with tablecloths and votive candles in hand, and then I shuffled through the store, straightening books and laying out new product.

Again, us volunteers were invited in to the readings once the store's pace subsided. I snuck in for the second act, and WOW -- I picked the right time to crash the joint.

I arrived in time to hear Jane Urquhart read from her latest work, Sanctuary Line, and I caught Kathleen Winter's reading of her uber-award-nominated novel, Annabel. Had audience members turned around in that second half of the reading, I do believe they would have found a googly-eyed, drooling girl who looked suspiciously like me, suspended in a daunting sense of admiration. I thought an IFOA NOIR reading had been scheduled for the space -- little did I know I'd be crashing an event featuring Can. lit.'s elite. Shock and amazement!

***

Ah, book events. How I miss thee already. I am still rather envious over some other shifts on offer with IFOA -- I had to miss the training session due to night classes which meant I did not qualify for the Author's Lounge area. BAH! One volunteer regaled me with a tale involving her and John Waters hanging out and eating snacks. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ME, PEOPLE. It could have been a gay wonderland, but NO. *Pout*

Just you wait until next season. I will rock that festival harder than a book-ophile in Robarts.

Mark my words.

A-OK with IFOA

Ah, the sudden sweetness of Fall. We are in the throes of another major literary season, and I am steeped in BOOKSBOOKSBOOKS. It's a touch unsightly, even. From the part-time gig at Chapters and the night courses in publishing, to the recent spate of volunteerism, I am set to overdose on words in the near future.

Ain't it grand, kids?

As I promised in the last post (From the Frontline of the IFOA), here is the recap of the first two shifts I worked with The Harbourfront Centre for the International Festival of Authors:

Friday, October 22/2010

Emma Donoghue

Yes, it's true -- I met Queen of the Queer Pages, Emma Donoghue. It consisted of an over-energetic, "HELLO!!" from me, and a polite "Hello" from Ms. Donoghue. Then she was whisked away by her publicist/publisher entourage for reasons other than the strange volunteer girl's presence.

*Ahem*

I admit, I did not know a great deal about Ms. Donoghue before this season. Her latest novel, Room, is sweeping the major book awards (RE: Nods from the Man Booker Prize, the Writer's Trust Fund, and the Governor General's Award), so, of course, I took notice. But sweet bottle rockets -- she's an out woman, ladies! Where have I been living in the last decade to not notice this?! The woman wrote Passions Between Women: British Lesbian Culture 1668-1801, Inseparable: Desire Between Women in Literature, AND she's written lesbian-themed novels.

I'm awakening harder than Edna Pontellier, people -- and it isn't to the stifling realities of a woman's life in the nineteenth-century, either.

So, lesson learnt. And what a fine schooling it was.

I also got to meet the man about town, Ben McNally, who owns one of the most gorgeous bookstores in Toronto.

Ben McNally Books, 366 Bay Street

Quite the experience to see a gentleman like him in action. He's one of those linchpin booksellers in Toronto, and the professionals flock to him because of his involvement in the area. I observed him quietly as I straightened stacks of books and re-stocked tables. When the readings and the round-table discussions take place, there's about an hour's worth of downtime before the crowds crush the area -- I toured the book synopses and talked literature with Mr. McNally and the volunteers he invited out to the events on Friday. Crazy. Simply crazy.

Saturday, October 23/2010

It's IFOA NOIR, dollface.

I returned the next night for the same position at the same location. I met two great volunteers that night, and had ample time to compare notes on the festival. Ha, I even got to be the impromptu instructor for a few new volunteers. I've learned in the last little while that, if you speak with enough confidence, folks will grant greater power to you. I had people defaulting to me on some major decisions that were beyond my scope as a first-time IFOA volunteer.

I realized then how much I've changed in the last two and a half years when it comes to public speaking -- I used to be nervous in those situations, and unsure of how I should present myself. Now, I approach people as if I've known them for months, and it seems to break through some social wall we all tend to build between each other. Ah, revelations -- and the night was still young!

I got to sneak into one of the readings taking place in a room close to us during a quiet stretch. The theme for this year's festival is IFOA NOIR -- in the Brigantine Room, a great collection of crime fiction, thrillers, and mystery novels are showcased each night, and fans can meet the authors afterward. I got to hear Peter Robinson read from his latest novel, Bad Boy, and I got to meet Louise Penny, author of the Bury Your Dead, after the readings. Mr. McNally asks the authors to sign additional copies of their books before the night wraps up, so I got to approach Ms. Penny for her signature. She's an absolute delight, and I talked to her and her publicist/publisher about the intriguing, all-white cover of her latest novel (as an employee at a bookstore, I can vouch for the fact that a white book jacket will stand out amid the sea of dark covers known to mysteries/thrillers).

***

I floated back to the GO Train, full of splendid, book-related vibes. This sensation has been amplified recently due to the sheer volume of reading I'm tackling at the moment. I realized how many other shortlists I was interested in, so.... I will be occupied with that for some time. As a recap for new readers, the lists I'm checking out are:

• The Scotiabank Giller Prize longlist (13 titles)
• The Man Booker Prize shortlist (6 titles)
• The Rogers Writers' Trust Fund shortlist (5 titles)
• The Toronto Book Award shortlist (5 titles)
• The Governor General's Literary Awards (English-language) shortlists (35 titles)

... Now, granted, there's a great deal of overlap in there. For instance, Emma Donoghue's Room appears on the shortlists for the Man Booker Prize, the Writers' Trust award, and the Governor General's English-language Fiction award. Also, Kathleen Winter's Annabel appears on the shortlists for the Giller Prize, the Writers' Trust award, and the GG's fiction award, also. Trust me, it helps. From here, I've got five titles under the belt, and four more in my possession.

And I finally got a copy of Annabel Lyon's The Golden Mean from our local library! I've had it on hold since February. I know, I am a dedicated (and cheap) reader. I'm halfway through it and, golly -- quite the sexy times in ancient Greece.

I have two more shifts lined up with Harbourfront, so expect more updates from the frontline of the IFOA in the next few days (that is, if I don't swoon from the book-induced overload).

Model Jessica White attacks woman over Taxi

Don’t let those pretty faces fool you…you ain’t Naomi!

From the Frontline of the IFOA

Date: Friday, October 22/2010

Setting: Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON - Marilyn Brewer Community Space, temporary site of Ben McNally Books.

Event: Day Three of the International Festival of Authors

Enter: Miz Moffatt, Book Assistant Extraordinaire.

(Miz Moffatt mills about the book selling area, volunteer tag hanging about her neck. She pours over new books, drooling over their promising synopses. A murmur rises at the main staircase as a flood of book nerds pours into the space. Miz Moffatt engages in a running, internalized commentary....)

Miz Moffatt (V/O): Oh, here comes the first wave. Hmm, I wonder who all was on that panel. I'm guessing the authors were literary fiction. I'm seeing a lot of heavy, dark-framed glasses buzzing around-- hello! She's cute. Cropped hair, pixie features, all-black outfit -- yes, please.

(Miz Moffatt checks her volunteer tag, makes sure it is visible. Wonders if she could catch the light with the laminated tag to signal the lady over to her...)

I wonder which book she's looking for-- oh, well, now. Soft butch at ten o'clock. Hmm, she seems like a serious type, very knowledgeable. Oh, that girl must be her girlfriend. Always a pleasure to find lesbians outside of the bar scene. Huh, that's odd -- my Gaydar seems to be overactive tonight. Well, it's been a long week, maybe I'm just imagining -- WOW! Fitted, red jacket, asymmetrical haircut, fierce femme girl cradling a copy of Inseparable: Desire Between Women in Literature?! WHERE ON EARTH AM I?!

(Miz Moffatt peeks around the corner at the author signing tables. Notes where these fine ladies are gravitating toward.)

Emma Donoghue. Man Booker Prize nominee, and greatest gay gal lure of 'em all.

IFOA, I am forever in your debt.

***

More to adventures to follow in the next few posts....

Sunday Ausbeute

Sunday was a lovely day, just soo nice and chill

 

MK Lip Gloss *present*

 

MAC Eyeshadow £9

Make Up Academy Lipstick £1!!!! (though i must say it’s cheap…all that glitter)

WARPAINT. ▲

Last night, I saw Rough Trade’s hot new signings, all-girl quartet Warpaint, perform in Crawdaddy on Harcourt Street. Warpaint, who hail from Los Angeles, released their EP ‘Exquisite Corpse’, mixed by John Fruisciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers, in early 2009. The EP was immediately popular, soaring to number one on Los Angeles’ Amoeba Records Local Artists Chart. Though Warpaint seem to be taking the world by storm at the moment, I was quite surprised to hear that they would be playing in Dublin, and even more surprised when I saw the number of people who turned up to see them.

Playing to many entranced audiences in the last year, Warpaint have opened for Yeasayer and Band of Horses, to name just two. Though they are supposedly one of the hottest hipster bands of the moment, the crowd at Warpaint was (thankfully) quite reserved, and seemed to genuinely be there just for the music rather than to appear ‘cool’, or whatever. There was a polite cheer when Warpaint took to the stage, and opened the performance with their self-titled track ‘Warpaint.’ From the word go, Warpaint occupied the crowd, showering us with their complicated guitar riffs and haunting vocals. The mood set was certainly quite trippy, and the drums helped to set the feeling which was perhaps reminiscent of post-rock. Warpaint have been repeatedly referred to as a psychedelic rock band, and this description, in my opinion, fits them perfectly. It was probably the strong beat of the drum which drew me in fully throughout the concert, as Warpaint drifted serenely through tracks such as “Stars” and “Elephants” which appeared on their EP, and Composure and Undertow which make their debut on Warpaint’s album which has it’s official release on October 25th (but was on sale at the gig.)

As a live entity, I thought Warpaint were great. They all seemed to be very amicable toward the crowd and each other, and they worked well together as a team, rather than each girl trying to do her own thing, which seems to be the problem with many of the bands around at the moment. I certainly left Warpaint feeling content and lulled into a dreamy haze by the four musicians from LA.

Streetstyler of The Day

Rockit Ausbeute

Vintage Earrings from Rockit( Covent Garden)

Yayyy

Thank you guys soo much!

*I should start doing give aways me thinks*

I wouldn't want to pull the wool over your eyes..

CHUNKY KNITS are definitely the way to go this Winter. As well as being completely functional (my circulation is absolutely dire) they are also comfy, practical, easy to wear, and look great always.

Knits have appeared on numerous catwalks this season, from Marc Jacobs to Burberry Prorsum to Chloé, as well as in High Street favourites like Topshop and Urban Outfitters. They are without doubt one of the finer aspects of Fall/Winter 2010. As well as having appeared in numerous look books, they can be worn by people of all style inclinations. Whether you’re grungy or preppy, KNITWEAR IS FOR YOU!

I myself am beginning to acquire quite a collection of rather large, baggy knitted clothing, and most of it secondhand for that pre-loved feel only thrifted clothes can provide you with. In July, I picked up an oversized knitted cardigan in the Urban Renewal section of Urban Outfitters in London- £28 well spent.

I also dug an abandoned aran sweater knit by my grandmother, and a cuddly grey cardigan knit by my mom, out of my dad’s closet recently. I love both of these dearly, and I’m sure will come in handy in the approaching Winter months as Dublin is so cold.

Knits work in most colours, but in my opinion they’re gorgeous in rich, warm, Wintery colours such as cinnamon, mustard, wine, caramel, and cream (feeling Christmassy yet?). Contrary to popular belief, knitwear can also definitely be sexy. You don’t have to look like a geriatric in your comfy jumper- it’s like a big mash-up of fireside warmth meets couture.

This is one trend assured to wrap it’s comforting arms around the world as the thermometer drops. Which leaves me with the question; will you be wearing knits this winter?

Topshop

 Marc Jacobs

Chloé

WARPAINT.

So.. I've been listening to Warpaint for a couple of months, and tomorrow I get to see them live in Crawdaddy. I was pretty impressed by their EP, and though their album was just leaked and I haven't gotten a chance to listen to it fully yet, lets hope it's as good as the EP!
I'll write some sort of review on it on Friday I guess,
B-I-L-L-I-E-H-O-L-I-D-A-Y.

x

BROWN SATCHEL, ANYONE?

Starting University this past Autumn has, for me, really brought to light the almost revolutionary idea that “anything goes”.  Between Trinity campus itself, and the Temple Bar and Georges Street areas of Dublin, plus a few nights out, I have been fortunate enough to witness some of the craziest get-ups of all time.

Perhaps not surprisingly, many of the choice outfits on display actually work, and I’ve found them to be quite inspiring.  I usually find myself picking out my clothes with a picture in my head.  A picture, maybe, of someone that I’ve seen, or an outfit I’ve seen in a magazine, or that I’ve compiled in my head.  Not to say I lack the originality to be able to piece together my own looks (I waste far too much time and money doing so), I just find myself easily inspired by articles or random passers-by.

And so, as a result of all my observations, the hunt for the perfect brown side bag begins.  Or resumes, maybe.. I did get a gorgeous brown satchel from Urban Outfitters  as a birthday present from my lovely boyfriend, but it is (sadly) not big enough to house my ever expanding collection of college books, plus my Mac Book, phone, wallet, planner, pens and what ever other academic paraphernalia I need to have constantly at hand.  Just today I visited “The Harlequin” vintage boutique on Castle Market, and a couple of other vintage stores around the area but alas, no luck.  I guess everyone’s looking for them!  Everyone seems to have them.  So the search continues, perhaps I can check Ebay..

Miroslava Duma

CRYSTAL CASTLES. ▲

Just last week, I went to see Canadian electronic duo 'Crystal Castles' in The Academy on Middle Abbey Street. Though I had heard mediocre reviews of the band's live set in the press, I decided to tag along and experience for myself the true natures of the band I had been listening to for so long.

By the time I arrived at the venue (after a rather stressful mishap with timing and buses), and battled my way through the rather disheveled looking hipsters who congregated outside and swarmed the merch stand, the support band, Health, were in full swing. The band's 2007 release of Crimewave with Crystal Castles was where I had first heard of the American noise pop group, hailing from Los Angeles. With their lyrics, which are seemingly purposefully vague, the band have been described as "artfully crafted noise and raw synth, haunting monotone vocals, and drum skills that are borderline insane," and I couldn't agree more. Health were the obvious choice to support Crystal Castles, and did an excellent job of preparing the crowd for what was to come. After much head-banging and swinging of hair, Health left the stage, and I found myself regretful wishing that I had forked out for tickets to their concert which was also in Dublin the following night.

Finally, after what seemed like eternity, the lights were cut, Alice Glass emerged from the thick smoke which enveloped the stage, and the band opened up with "Fainting Spells", as the strobe lighting took over and the crowd went insane.
I don't think I've even seen, nor have I ever again to see, a live performer who is as wild as Alice Glass. Though her sometimes weak vocals are often saved by the technical prowess of hooded band-mate Ethan Kath, Alice certainly held  my attention throughout. The backdrop in the Academy was a close-up of the 'graveyard girl' image which constituted the cover of their latest album, but the setlist was spread fairly evenly between both records, playing older tracks such as "Untrust Us" and "Courtship Dating", amongst newer anthems like "Doe-Deer", and the fist-pumping "Baptism". Leaping from the drum kit, striking the cymbals with her mic, and flinging herself to the mercy of the crowd, Alice certainly was a sight to behold. From reading reviews of the band, I had heard rumours of Alice's chugging straight JD, and sure enough, out came the bottle, which she had soon enough donated to her worshipping fans.

The crowd themselves were fairly wild, and though at times I admittedly feared for my life, I thoroughly enjoyed every second of being shoved and pulled in every possible direction, and by the end of the gig, my hair was soaked from root to tip between sweat, water and what ever alcohol people were showering over the crowd. Though I was slightly disappointed by the length of the gig, and thought it quite brazen if Crystal Castles to perform an encore after a show which was scarcely an hour long, I would definitely go to see the band again should the return to Dublin! All in all, a great night. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56E8yYgLNHE

OOTD

blahhhhhhhhh  :)

Today was a rather chilly day, didn’t do much as usual just Uni-ohhh how I hate it.

This is what I wore

simple, very simple. I totally forgot to wear some jewellery today.

my necklaces

Poodle and Eifeltower-Primani

Emblem-Accesorize

Waterfall Cardi- Primani

Top- New Look

Jeans- Gap

Shoes-Urban Outfitters

 

Wishing everyone an oh so relaxing Sunday

X

All Grammar'd Out

Oh, the pain.... the snapping of the synapses.....

I am in the middle of a grammar overload at the moment. Just spent the last few hours writing and fine-tuning a short essay on the use of "hopefully" as a sentence adverb.

....

See? I was destined to be a lesbian.

... alright, perhaps that's not concrete proof. Still, it's a theory at least.

I am in need of fun updates, I think. I miss my ladies. *Pout* Granted, I get to interact with ladies while at work and I also get to interact with new ladies while in the classroom. Both environments are excellent for the ladies, might I add. I swear, I'm not that much of a lech..... really...

This coming week is shaping up to be a whiteout of random. Check it:

• Grammar assignment, 25% (Tuesday)
• Textbook assessment assignment, 25% (Thursday)
• Mon-Thurs: 5 AM - 9:30 AM shifts at work
• Fri & Sat: Volunteer shifts w/ IFOA

... and my iTunes just shuffled to "Tossin' & Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis. I am not even kidding. I think my laptop is trying to tell me to settle the eff' down.

I must be making up for a slow August-October stretch. I tend to clot a lot of events all together and then go for weeks where I walk around moaning about how bored I am. Still, I know I'd rather be hanging out with The Advocate and Ship Sharp, if they'd have me back. Ah, just got to slog through this tough stretch and perhaps I shall see freedom once again.