Archive | September, 2013

New York Fashion Week: Fantasy Costuming with the Tracy Reese Spring 2014 Collection

10 Sep

The fall season is upon us and there’s time for one more fantasy costuming entry. At New York Fashion Week the stunning Tracy Reese Spring 2014 collection was unveiled and the press release describes it as “Sensuality, energy and optimism with an array of bold, spirited styles infused with Afro-Cuban influences to create an aesthetic full of texture and movement.” Bold patterns are something of a favorite here at TV Ate My Wardrobe and the blend of gingham, floral, polka dots and stripes alongside vibrant colors makes this a NYFW highlight.

Instead of picking one show or character we will be following the Burberry Prorsum model and opt for multiple shows and characters. These designs will appeal to a variety of demographics and narrowing the selection down to this amount was a challenge. Reese has used the vibrancy of Havana as an inspiration point and she told The Huffington Post that “The classicism that harks back to the 50’s and even the street culture today is melded and merged — young and old, black and white, everything in between. And everybody’s just enjoying the rhythm.”

Tracy Reese Spring 2014 collection

The first fantasy costuming piece we did was for Jess from New Girl and we tried to mix up Jess’ wardrobe by opting for a more monochromatic look. This colorful polka dot dress is quintessentially Jess; it’s super cute and the cut is incredibly feminine (if you click on the photo you can see the detail). The patterned neckerchief is a beautiful addition and this is my favorite look from the new Tracy Reese collection.

Tracy Reese

I love everything about this; the bright orange hue, the contrasting gingham blue pajama like pants, another great scarf and the bonus backpack with textured looking straps- I’m definitely having a backpack phase at the moment. This is something I can see Mindy wearing on The Mindy Project when she wants to look a bit more casual but also super stylish. Mindy doesn’t tend to wear pants all that often (when she’s not in scrubs or sweats) but I could definitely envision her in something like this.

Tracy Reese red and black stripes

While the henna tattoo is probably not something you would see on The Good Wife’s Alicia Florrick (unless she drank all the wine) this form fitting stripped dress is more her style. Alicia tends to color block her clothes and patterns don’t tend to feature, but as she is now setting up her own firm we might see Alicia switching out some of her standard suits and dresses for something a little more adventurous.

Tracy Reese white

I dipped in and out of Revenge last season as the conspiracy grew into a giant mess; the cliffhanger in the finale is enough to bring me back for now and this white floral dress embodies the picture of innocence that Emily tries to project while she is plotting her REEEEEEEEEVENGE.

Tracy Reese crop top

The full bodied skirt is one trend that I will definitely be embracing this season and while I’m not really a crop top fan, I can totally see Carrie from The Carrie Diaries rocking both of these looks. Yes the show is set in the 1980s, but the costuming has a tendency to pay homage to that time period without worrying about accuracy. This isn’t as bright as some of the other pieces but it is definitely as bold with the big floral print.

Tracy Reese lounge

Olivia Pope would probably not opt for the black and red striped top – though I’d love to see a flash of color in her wardrobe even if it goes against her ‘uniform’ – but those white pants with the black trim detail are perfect Olivia Pope lounge wear. This is where she eats popcorn and somehow doesn’t manage to spill red wine down herself, a feat I am constantly impressed with.

Tracy Reese lapels

On Parks and Recreation, April Ludgate is off to veterinary school and while we’ve already picked out some costuming for her next season this is another back to school look for April. This is probably a slightly more girly look than we are used to seeing, but it doesn’t stray into the bolder palette of this collection and more muted tones are an April staple. The bonus backpack features one of April’s favorite colors – mustard – and will be ideal for all those books she’s soon going to be carrying.

Tracy Reese flowers

On Arrow the Oliver, Diggle, Felicity team is the most fun aspect and while this dress might be outside of Felicity’s usual floral jersey dress comfort zone; it would be perfect for an undercover mission that gets Felicity out from behind the computer and into the field again. It’s super sexy and the embellished detail on this dress is stunning.

Tracy Reese blue

On New Girl Cece’s wardrobe tends to swing between form fitting bodycon when they go out and far less constricting baggy pants and vest when they are lounging around the loft. The above Tracy Reese combination is maybe a little out there for Cece but it would look stunning on her regardless and the two very different types of floral embellishment is power clashing at its finest. She could also donate the gingham strapped backpack to Jess for the new school year.

For more in this fantasy costuming series head here.

Music Monday: Belle & Sebastian’s “Sleep the Clock Around”

9 Sep

What a start to the week! My internet access has been down this morning, which is more frustrating than anything else – I did get some offline work done and without distractions I caught up on some writing, but there’s only so much you can do when you have to post things online and have emails to send. I’ve also just finished watching last night’s Breaking Bad and considering the prolonged heightened tension and huge cliffhanger I thought a soothing song would be best. So far we have only featured songs that have appeared on TV shows or in movies and while today’s choice has been on a soundtrack, this isn’t why it has the honor of being today’s “Music Monday.”

The track is “Sleep the Clock Around” by Belle & Sebastian and most recently appeared on a season 1 episode of The Killing (not so uplifting). It’s my favorite track from the album “Boy with the Arab Strap,” an album that I have listened to a lot from when it was released in 1998 as it’s played a big part in my essay writing album selection. It also feels like the perfect song as the summer comes to an end. Who knew that bagpipes could be this relaxing?

 

Out of the Box: Look of the Week

6 Sep

The summer is coming to an end and the new fall TV season is just around the corner; this means more TV stars on magazine covers, red carpet and chat show appearances. September also means multiple film festivals with Venice taking place already and TIFF started yesterday. New York Fashion Week also kicked off yesterday so expect a lot of appearances from TV stars promoting their shows from the front row. This is the month where it all gets a bit crowded and while it can sometimes feel like information overload, I love it.

Winner: Eddie Izzard and Sidse Babett Knudsen for the Zulu Comedy Awards

Sidse Babett Knudsen and Eddie Izzard

The Zulu Comedy Awards are Danish and Borgen star Sidse Babette Knudsen appears alongside actor and comedian Eddie Izzard. While this award show hasn’t been on my radar before I am so glad that this photo popped up on my Facebook feed (thanks to Scanoir) as it brings me so much joy. We are used to seeing Knudsen in the serious role of Prime Minister Birgitte Nyborg but she played host at this comedy awards show. As you can see from the above photo Eddie Izzard seems very taken with the compare and she is striking a rather amazing looking fierce pose. Last year as part of a roundtable discussion I gave Sidse Babett Knudsen my performance of the year and I can’t wait to see what she does next as Borgen has now ended in Denmark (I still have season 3 to watch). While I would like to see her tackle comedy, seeing her with Izzard has me longing for a Hannibal guest starring role.

Runner Up: Kerry Washington Covering Flare Magazine

Kerry Washington Flare

Kerry Washington has scored another magazine cover (she’s also covers Glamour’s October issue) and this really is the year of Olivia Pope. The great thing is that none of the editorials look similar and this is something that is reflected in Washington’s red carpet choices; there is always variety. Olivia Pope has her defined uniform of white tailored pieces with flashes of other neutral tones whereas Kerry Washington is happy to experiment. The pink polka dot Miu Miu coat is striking (and on my infinite wish list) and this is the second magazine cover editorial that has opted for this collection (Michelle Dockery’s Harper’s Bazaar cover went for the stripped Miu Miu coat). Is a Vogue cover next? Here’s hoping.

Runner Up: Jack Huston at the Boardwalk Empire Season 4 Premiere 

Jack Huston Boardwalk Empire Premiere

Boardwalk Empire returns in just over a week (Sunday, 9) and it’s a show that has one of the richest aesthetic looks. The sprawling nature of the world that these characters inhabit means that favorites such as Jack Huston’s Richard Harrow are sometimes sidelined for too long. When Harrow did come into play last year it was as devastating and brutal as his story has always been and I’m pleased to hear that season 4 will see Harrow explore his past; will he find his sister? Jack Huston does an excellent job of transforming himself into this character that goes beyond the tin mask; his speech patterns and posture are just as important. Red carpet appearances reveal how handsome he really is and not anyone can pull off a moustache like that.

Runner Up: Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson at the Venice Film Festival 

Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson

First of all let’s rejoice once again that Joshua Jackson has scored himself a Showtime pilot as the new season hasn’t even started and I’m sad that he won’t be gracing our screens. Diane Kruger has been doing an exceptional job on The Bridge – there’s this amazing thing she does with her eyes when she’s trying to explain Sonya’s issues with connecting with people that breaks my heart every single time – and I’ve been generally very impressed with this adaptation.

The pair hit the red carpet in Venice for the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gala Dinner (a brand that Kruger is the face of) and while not everyone can pull of such a heavy looking velvet gown, Kruger looks extraordinary in the purple Alberta Ferretti dress. There is something regal about it without appearing too much like a fancy dress costume and this is aided by the minimal accessories and simple hair and makeup. Josh Jackson looks pretty dapper, even with the injury that means he’s wearing a support rather than a shoe (also in black).

Who is your look of the week?

Downton Abbey’s Lily James Covers Wonderland Magazine

5 Sep

Last week we revealed Game of Thrones star Kit Harrington on the cover of Wonderland’s Fashion Issue and we are pleased to present the alternate Lily James version. Lily James leaves behind her 1920s Downton Abbey garb in this striking image and as with the Kit Harrington editorial it focuses on her face and not what she is wearing. Water is predominant again, though it looks like a panel of glass is separating James from the reader and there’s bonus dramatic lighting. As this is the fashion issue expect more clothing inspired photographs inside the magazine, which hits newsstands today.

Update: As per Wonderland Magazine’s Twitter account the issue has been delayed and will now be out on the 11th/12th
Wonderland Lily James

From My So-Called Life to Homeland: The Dichotomy of Claire Danes

4 Sep

In this week’s New Yorker there is an extensive Claire Danes profile which explores her desire to act from an early age, the inherent contrasting elements of the characters she plays and how she got the lead roles on Homeland and as Angela Chase. It’s not surprising for anyone that reads this blog or who has read any of the My So-Called Life discussions over at This Was TV as to how much this show and character mean to me. It came along when I was the same age as Angela and connected in a way that no show had done in the past and this will surpass the time limit on this current spate of ’90s nostalgia.

MSCL ep 2 Angela

The casting process for My So-Called Life and how it was kismet that Danes walked into the audition room and blew them all away at the age of 13 is not something I have previously seen discussed. It was down to Danes and Alicia Silverstone and Silverstone was emancipated and so could work long hours, something that Danes couldn’t do. Despite the advantages of Silverstone’s availability they went the other way and instead turned Angela’s parents Patty and Graham into more central figures; a move that increased the storytelling spectrum of the show. Even though I hated Patty when I originally watched the show, now that I am not a teenager there is something very special about the portrayal of this mother/daughter relationship.

One defining aspect of this profile is the repetition of the dichotomy that Danes possesses in her acting as she consistently plays characters with dueling attributes and she can manipulate her acting style for a multi-layered performance. When they talk about why she was chosen over Alicia Silverstone they mention that Silverstone was too pretty and that “You can’t put that face in what’s been written for this girl.” Alternatively with Danes “her face could transform in an instant from beautiful to ordinary.” The relationship between creator Winnie Holzman and Claire Danes developed from this place Richard Kramer (who worked on MSCL) remarks “Winnie wouldn’t be Winnie without Claire. And Claire wouldn’t be Claire without Winnie. There was something mythological about their meeting.”

MSCL angela bed

There’s another aspect of duality when it comes to Claire Danes and Angela Chase as Danes was experiencing the very same teen issues as her character. Quite often someone who is much older plays a teen role (generally this is due to the legal working hours) and so it is rare to find a teen character played by a teen actor – there are exceptions of course such as Aimee Teegarden of Friday Night Lights and Taylor Momsen on Gossip Girl. This allowed Danes to channel her bad experiences through Angela “I remember being so relieved that I had an opportunity to voice my complaints about my time at school so perfectly and so eloquently, with the right amount of rage and humor.”

Carrie Mathison Season 3 Homeland

Homeland returns for season 3 in a few weeks and the “tsunami of emotions” that Danes brings to Carrie Mathison will be back in full force. The article reveals that Homeland creators Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa had seen Danes in Temple Grandin and were impressed that she “walked the razor’s edge between competence and unbalance.” This was something that their heroine required and the timing was perfect as Danes was suffering a slump in the projects she was being offered (this reiterates the point she made in her recent Vogue interview).

homeland photo

Dealing with personal and professional problems is at the heart of who Carrie is and her interactions with Brody are an extreme version of this. Carrie is constantly being second guessed and while at times she is completely unreliable, she is also incredible at her job. It’s about the marriage of both of these things and there is a reason why Danes has won so many awards as she gives such a believable and heartbreaking portrayal of a character teetering on the edge of oblivion. While Homeland had a dip in form last season, Danes has always been consistently brilliant. There is no holding back when it comes emotional intensity and this can be seen throughout Danes’ career; it’s why she can deliver a variety of striking performances that have the ability to make your soul hurt.

One final contrasting element that you might not expect from someone who picks such intense characters is that Claire Danes loves arts and crafts. This never fails to makes me smile especially when you factor in who her husband is and picture Carrie Mathison and Will Graham creating exotic Easter eggs together.

To read the rest of this extensive profile head here.

Happy TV New Year and Turning Another Year Older

3 Sep

September feels like the start of a new year and for TV it is as the fall season is about to begin. September is the month that I associate with new beginnings – it was always when the academic year started and even though my post-grad finished several years ago I’m still very much in that mindset. Do you know how much I want to go out and get new stationary even though I don’t need it?! Fashion is another industry that holds this month in high regard as the September issue of magazines marks the biggest publication of the year (yes they hit newsstands in August, but there’s no mention of that summer month in the title)  and New York Fashion Week kicks off on Thursday.

The photos dotted throughout are the characters who I often ask “What Would ______ Do?” This selection of inspiring female characters will provide life lessons, fix things, teach me how to wear white without spilling, organize Galentine’s Day, support me with my cheese habit and show me how to wear ’90s fashion all over again.

Leslie Knope

There’s a personal reason why September always feels like the perfect time to reassess and look to the new as it also happens to be when my birthday is (yeah I’m making this all about me). It’s time to finally accept that I am no longer a twentysomething and that I am too old to be a Millennial and too young to be Gen X; where are all the think pieces about the generation in the middle and how we ruined everything? I want my Time magazine cover.

[Source]

While I’m experiencing the standard apprehension about where I am and what I am doing I also wanted to take the moment to write this perhaps overly emotive post (hey it’s the internet what else am I meant to do?) to see that I am actually doing fine.

Tami Taylor and wine[Source]

TV Ate My Wardrobe has been in existence in this form for almost 5 months and when I started it I had some idea of what I wanted it to be – a place to talk about TV, costuming and fashion. There are so many incredible outlets that feature terrific writing about TV and it’s such a competitive market it can be tough to break through and carve a corner of one’s own. While I still have far to go before I can hail this venture a success, it’s been a personal triumph as my confidence has grown. Of course there are days when I think it’s all pointless but then a new idea will strike and it all seems worth it again. Or I’ll find out that one of my Scandal costuming picks is actually something that has been used in the forthcoming season (*spoiler* it’s the white Burberry trench).

MSCL ep7 The Smile

A lot of thanks has to be given to the many new friends I have made in the TV and writing community on Twitter and for the opportunities this has given me. Without This Was TV I wouldn’t be able to relive my sometimes embarrassing teen years while talking about My So-Called Life and Freaks and Geeks. This is soon to include the sometimes awkward university years as Julie Hammerle and I will be moving onto Felicity later this month. It turns out conversation pieces are a lot of fun and here I will be continuing the Summer Rewind project (even if it’s pretty much autumn) with Kerensa Cadenas and we will be joined by Julie to talk all things Scandal before the new season begins.  

Olivia PopeWarning this is where I get even more sentimental as I want to say thanks to everyone who has been reading; whether it is one article or if you visit on a regular basis it has made this experience more worthwhile. There is one person who encourages me on a daily basis even when I starting doubting the words I write and they get a huge thank you and this support means everything.

For the final word I will leave you with Nick Miller and I can’t wait to start writing about New Girl again when the new season returns. Here he is with a notion that I am going to try and listen to as I turn another year older.

 [Source]

Music Monday: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

2 Sep

Yesterday I went to see The Way, Way Back (it’s an excellent coming of age story and I never thought I could hate Steve Carell in anything) and one of the previews before the film was for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. The trailer has been available online since last month but seeing it on the big screen as opposed to your phone or computer feels like a whole new experience. There are several striking things in this 2 minute snapshot of this movie – Adam Scott’s douchebag enhancing chinstrap beard being one of them – but it the minimal dialogue that stands out. It’s all about image and this is a film that uses photographs as an important narrative device.

Trailer music helps set the tone and “Dirty Paws” by Of Monsters and Men gives a feeling of sadness that builds into hope as we see Ben Stiller’s Walter Mitty embark on his daydreaming adventure. The song might not even make it into the movie as some of the best trailer music doesn’t – one example off the top of my head is “Wake Up” by Arcade Fire for Where the Wild Things Are – sometimes it’s meant to be a table setter for the soundtrack that is to come.

Watch the trailer and hear the song below. “Dirty Paws” features on “My Head is an Animal” by Of Monsters and Men.

Variety

Entertainment news, film reviews, awards, film festivals, box office, entertainment industry conferences

Julie Hammerle

Nerds Need Love Too

Sofa and Remote

I love talking about TV as much as I love watching it

Ellie Writes Stuff

About this and that

Twitter Music Club

A rotation curation music club, based on Twitter, mainly for Kiwis

INTO ROW Z

If you enjoy a challenge, like Claude Makélélé, read my blog. Its about sport.

lost somewhere in new york city

We rock a lot of polka dots

sankles

We rock a lot of polka dots

frocktalk.com/

Just another WordPress.com site

Cultural Learnings

Television Reviews and Analysis

judgmental observer

film, tv, popular culture, higher ed, unicorns

Rookie

We rock a lot of polka dots

The Frisky

We rock a lot of polka dots

Tell Us a Story

stories about true things