Dum Spiro Spero

A Night at the Movies (or Some Movies I Love)

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:43:00 +0000

A couple of nights ago, I was in the company of some friends discussing our favorite movies. Someone would name a genre, such as romance, or thriller, and we would each take turns naming our favorite movies. Me, being the dunce that I am, couldn't remember what my favorite films were, and I am sure I ended up giving mediocre answers.

A couple of years ago, I emailed a list of suggestions to my friend Kelli. Below is that (much expounded upon) list. I love pretty films, foreign films, period films, films that make me think (by revealing some essential truth), and films that make me feel (also by touching on some essential truth).

Here, then, are some movies that I REALLY love. If you check any out, let me know what you think.

The Movie: PANDORA'S BOX (1929)
The Director: G.W. PABST
Starring: LOUISE BROOKS

If you watch one silent film, this ought to be it. I am definitely biased towards Louise Brooks, the quirky star of this film, but I'm pretty sure you will be as well after you see her in action. The movie was a bit slow (in truth, it took a couple of sittings to get through this), but it's worth the effort as Brooks is sublime, the 1920s fashion is great, and the plot is not bad.

The Movie: THE THIN MAN (1934)
The Director: W.S. Van Dyke
Starring: William Powell, Myrna Loy

There are a whole slew of Thin Man movies out there (this first one was such a success that it spawned sequels and even a television series), but this one is the essential one to see. The stars of the show are Nick and Nora Charles, a rich socialite couple (and, of course, their terrier, Asta, who steals every scene he is in), who somehow get drawn into a murder case. The story is based on a Dashiell Hammett story, so you know it's a great whodunit. But, what I especially love is the palpable chemistry between Powell and Loy in their respective roles, and the witty dialogue that characterizes the series.

The Movie: GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
The Director: Victor Fleming
Starring: Vivien Leigh, Lesley Howard, Olivia da Havilland, Clark Gable

As a gal growing up in the south, the daughter of Southern parents (with my mom being named after Melanie), you can be sure we watched Gone With the Wind every chance we got. My sister and I would pop this in on sick days, kick back, and watch silly Scarlet debate between the emasculated Ashley and the infinitely preferable Rhett Butler. The movie is epic, a snapshot on a lost time in the American south.

The Movie: REBECCA (1940)
The Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley..." thus begins both the novel by Daphne du Maurier and this film adaptation. This black and white film is shrouded in mystery. It starts out innocently enough as a love story, with the narrator (Ms. Fontaine) meeting and marrying the dashing widower, Maxim de Winter. From there, though, it's all downhill. She quickly finds that everything revolves around "Rebecca," the deceased first wife of Maxim. It's a Hitchcock film, so you can be sure there are twists and turns, and nothing gets resolved until the very end. Also, if you're interested, the book is a great read as well. Incidentally, Joan Fontaine is the estranged real life sister of Olivia da Havilland, who plays Melanie in Gone With the Wind.

The Movie: A LETTER TO THREE WIVES (1949)
The Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Starring: Jeanne Crain, Linda Darnell, Ann Sothern, Kirk Douglas

One morning, three friends receive a letter from another woman telling them that she has run away with one of their husbands. They spend the day agonizing over which husband it is, each remembering reasons why their own husband would have been likely to stray. I love the overall style and feel of this movie-- the trio of actresses are great!

The Movie: LE NOTTI BIANCHE (1957)
The Director: Luchino Visconti
Starring: Marcello Mastroianni

Based on a short story by Fyodor Dostoevsky (White Nights), this moody, black-and-white film follows the narrator as we wanders around the empty streets of a town. He eventually encounters a lonely girl and the two of them begin wandering together, drawn together in sadness. I haven't watched this movie in ages, but something about it still resonates with me. It's also a depressing love story (you'll note a theme as you go along).

The Movie: BLACK ORPHEUS (1959)
The Director: Marcel Camus
Starring: Breno Mello, Marpessa Dawn

This film is a modern day retelling of the legend of Orpheus and Eurydice. It's probably helpful to know that before you watch the film, as it has several references to that legend. This movie is really FUN-- it's set during the time of Carnival in Rio de Janiero. What that means is that there is GREAT music (bossa novas) throughout the course of the film, and an energy that carries you throughout. You get a great sense of the Brazilian zest for life, and it makes me want to get up and dance.

The Movie: CHARADE (1963)
The Director: Stanley Donen
Starring: Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau, James Coburn

It has been called the best Hitchcock film that Hitchcock never made. A woman's husband has been murdered and several men are after her in an attempt to find money he had stolen. Whom should she trust? The combination of suspense, comedy, and romance make this a winner for everybody. I always loved watching Grant and Hepburn and the way they play off of each other in this movie. Also, this movie is in the public domain because of some silly copyright laws, so you have no excuse to miss this gem.

The Movie: TWO FOR THE ROAD (1967)
The Director: Stanley Donen
Starring: Albert Finney, Audrey Hepburn

This is my favorite movie ever. It is the one film that I have seen umpteen times, and am always up for watching again. I must be a sucker for tormented love stories (see Wuthering Heights, below), but there is something that rings true about them to me. This story follows Joanna and Mark Wallace from their first meeting, to marriage, several infidelities, and onward. I love how the story is presented in a series of snapshots, and that it shows another side to marriage than happily ever after. Audrey and Albert are great, as are the European settings, and to top it all off, Henry Mancini creates a beautiful score to set it all off quite nicely.

The Movie: HAROLD AND MAUDE (1971)
The Director: Hal Ashby
Starring: Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort

My sister and I stumbled upon this movie sometime during our teenage years. He's morbid, contrary and obsessed with death. She's old and has a different way of looking at life. Together, they make a great pair. This movie is pretty dark, but also hilarious, and definitely worth your time.

The Movie: DAYS OF HEAVEN (1978)
The Director: Terrence Malick
Starring: Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, Sam Shepard, Linda Manz

I have to resist the urge to keep writing, "I love this film!!!" That's what I wanted to write, but then I realized that I love all of these movies, hence this list. But this one especially. My heart just aches watching it. Yes, it's slow, but it has the quality of a painting. It is really one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. It's about three drifters who start working on a farm in the early 1900s. Sounds fascinating, I know. Just watch it.

The Movie: LADY JANE (1986)
The Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Cary Elwes, Helena Bonham-Carter

Cary Elwes, check. Helena Bonham-Carter, check. Historical drama, check. Yep, I am a sucker for these kinds of movies. It might be a little know fact among Americans (I wonder how much the general English population knows about her?), but beside the King Henrys and Queen Elizabeths of British history, there was once a poor sixteen year old who reigned as Queen of England for a precious nine days before being dethroned (and beheaded) by her cousin, (Bloody) Mary Tudor. Yes, I'm sure the movie gets it wrong, as they so often do, but I do love this version of the tale. She's young, brilliant, and innocent. He's worldly, and a rogue, but her love changes him. In the end, she is martyred for her faith, and we are all moved by it.

The Movie: 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD (1987)
The Director: David Hugh Jones
Starring: Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins, Judi Dench

I'm a book lover (which is probably why I should be doing this list about books, not movies). This movie, about a Brookynite in 1940s who strikes up a transatlantic correspondence with an English bookseller. She contacts him because she is trying to find rare books, and he discovers a kindred spirit. The two never meet, remaining pen pals for their lives, but their friendship is very real. If you're a book lover, I dare you not to like this film.

The Movie: CINEMA PARADISO (1988)
The Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Starring: Phillipe Noiret, Jacques Perrin, Salvatore Cascio

Just like 84 Charing Cross Road is a movie for people who love books, Cinema Paradiso is a movie for people who love movies. It is an Italian film (it took home the Oscar) and it follows the relationship of a young boy and the old man who runs the film projector at the local cinema. There are a lot of nuances to it, and I love the sequence at the end with all of the kissing scenes.

The Movie: WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1992)
The Director: Peter Kosminsky
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche

Simone de Beauvoir claimed that Catherine Earnshaw's cry of "I AM HEATHCLIFF!" is the cry of every woman in love. I'm not sure if that is true (although I've had moments where I completely identify with that sentiment), but this film does show two people who are completely obsessed with each other to the point of destroying not only their own lives, but everyone around them. I'm partial to the movie, as the book is my favorites, but it's also the film that introduced Mr. Fiennes to the world, and he has been smoldering ever since.

The Movie: IL POSTINO (1994)
The Director: Michael Radford
Starring: Massimo Troisi, Philippe Noiret

I imagine this was the first foreign language film that I ever saw. My nose probably wrinkled in disgust at the suggestion (we even saw it in the theater), but I'm thankful I had friends who possessed more class than I did, as the film has spawned a lifelong love of foreign films. This film is set in a picturesque island in Italy, and features a mostly illiterate postman who falls in love with the village beauty. More than love, though, this film is about his relationship with Pablo Neruda, the famous Chilean poet, who inspires him through poetry. It's a lovely film-- I can still hear the soundtrack in my head, as well as Neruda's poetry. Oh, and to lend poignancy to this sweet little film, the star, Massimo Troisi, died twelve hours after shooting concluded.

The Movie: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1995)
The Director: Simon Langton
Starring: Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle

Yes, I'm one of those girls who swoon over Mr. Darcy. I'll take him in either incarnation (as portrayed by Colin Firth or, as in the 2005 film, Matthew Macfadyen), but I have to say that the BBC miniseries (i.e., this one) is the quintessential version of Ms. Austen's beloved book. I think happiness is a full day watching this, preferably with someone else who appreciates this as much as I do.

The Movie: WIVES AND DAUGHTERS (1999)
The Director: Nicholas Renton
Starring: Justine Waddell, Bill Paterson, Anthony Howell

True story: In high school, I stumbled upon the novel, Wives and Daughters, by Elizabeth Gaskell, a contemporary of Charles Dickens. I loved the book, and decided that I would one day write a screenplay for it (oh, the dreams of teenagers!). A couple of years later, the BBC made this version, and I was ecstatic. I'm so happy that Gaskell's masterpiece has been brought to life via film. It is a mini-series, lucky us, so there are hours of enjoyment to be had watching this!

The Movie: SPIRITED AWAY (2001)
The Director: Hayao Miyazaki

This is quite possibly my favorite animated film. It's the story of a young girl who is whisked into a land of spirits and monsters and must use her wits, courage, and resolve to escape. This movie is magical, the anime is gorgeous, and the plot is totally unexpected (at least to Western audiences). The original version is in Japanese with English subtitles, while there is another that has been dubbed in English. I recommend both!

The Movie: THE TRIPETS OF BELLEVILLE (2003)
The Director: Sylvain Chomet
Starring: Michèle Caucheteux, Jean-Claude Donda, Michel Robin, Monica Viegas

This movie is in French, but there's not much spoken dialogue, so you probably won't notice. I was drawn in by the style of illustration (yes, it is animated!). It is a charming film, and the delightful music (in a 1920s style a la Django Reinhardt and Charles Trenet) means you should sit right back and enjoy this feast for the eyes and ears.

The Movie: ALL THE REAL GIRLS (2003)
The Director: David Gordon Green
Starring: Paul Schneider, Zooey Deschanel, Shea Whigham, Patricia Clarkson

Another story about relationships that rings true in my experience. This was the movie where I "discovered" Zooey Deschanel, and I have been infatuated ever since. He's a cad, she's virginal, you'll see how it all plays out.

I hope you enjoy some of my suggestions. I'd love to hear what some of your favorites are-- especially if you think I'd enjoy them too!!

XOXO,

Best. Job. Ever.

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:42:00 +0000

The Burj Al Arab in Jumeriah, Dubai

It has been a busy few weeks for me as I have been settling down in Dubai. The challenge for me seems to lie in allocating my time, what with work (I've been busy!), and lots of social engagements to keep me out every night. I'm happy to say that I've squeezed in lots of beach and pool time (yes, it is NICE, but I also am trying to swim several times a week so that I get in shape).

I don't do such a great job at saying, "No." Since I've been here, I've dined at the fancy-schmancy Cavalli Club, danced at 400 (a nightclub), discoed it up at a 70s theme party, attended a fashion show... the list goes on and on. I daresay there really is something to fill every night of the week, should I want it.

Work has been pretty good as well, although the rates have definitely dropped since I was last here in 2007, and generally there seems to be less jobs. But, it's a recession, right? I should just thankful I am working at all!

(As always, Click on the picture to enlarge!)
Outtakes from my job shooting at the Burj Al Arab.

Last week I got to do what could possibly qualify as my favorite job ever. I was shooting in the super exclusive Burj Al Arab, which is the world's only seven star hotel. The shoot was actually for the Burj (hopefully the pictures will appear on their website soon), and it afforded me an inside look at the hotel. We shot in the spa, by the pool, in the Royal Suite (which I think I heard goes for $40,000/night), on the helicopter pad, and a myriad of other spots. I can't reveal any of the official photos, but above is a collage I made of the two days of shooting.

So, why was it such a great job? Primarily, I must say it is because I really enjoyed the team, which ranges from the client that booked me, to the photographer, the makeup artist, the stylist, and the producer... I even got to have a "husband" for the job-- a cutie-pie male model from Switzerland. It's always fun when I get to work with another model (male or female) as they bring energy to the shoot. I was treated like a queen for two days, wish all of my shoots could go so well.

And, since budgets are compromised during this time of recession, part of the job was done for "trade," meaning I trade my services for theirs. The trade I got for my time is a one night stay at the Burj. I think that's pretty special, although I probably won't end up using it on myself. I feel blessed to have gotten to spend the time I did in the Burj, and am eager to share that with someone else... Now if only I could figure out who?

I'm curious, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH A ONE NIGHT'S STAY at the Burj Al Arab?

XOXO,

Ruth's Diary

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:35:00 +0000

via fadedfilmstrips Flickr stream

Fiona Robyn is going to blog her next novel, Thaw, starting on the 1^st of March next year. The novel follows 32 year old Ruth’s diary over three months as she decides whether or not to carry on living.

To help spread the word she’s organising a Blogsplash, where blogs will publish the first page of Ruth’s diary simultaneously (and a link to the blog).

She’s aiming to get 1000 blogs involved – if you’d be interested in joining in, email her at fiona@fionarobyn.com or find out more information here.

I already signed up to help... Won't you?

XOXO,

Vintage Berlin

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:36:00 +0000

Thanks so much for all the comment love I got on my last post-- you guys are so lovely! It's so nice to get positive feedback every now and again:) It's also nice to know that there are people out there who actually read what I write!

I know I posted about Berlin last time, but I'm not quite finished yet. I promise after this post, I'll stop living in the past and will write about what's going on in my current town, Dubai.

I'm a big fan of the "outfit post," although I haven't quite gotten the hang of it quite yet (see Liebemarlene, Strawberry Koi, Some Girls Wander..., Clever Nettle, Sally Jane Vintage, Casey's Elegant Musings, etc. for better examples). These girls have mastered the art of romantic settings (think train tracks, moss-covered trees, cemeteries, historic mansions), the lens flare, soft lighting... Truth be told, even if I could learn these techniques, I'm not usually wearing outfits that are really deserving of their own outfit post. I'm usually living out of a suitcase, which means my outfit/accessory/shoes choices are VERY limited.

Dress - Vintage, found in a Berlin vintage shop

Cardigan - borrowed from Corrie's closet
Tights - Hue
Boots - Madden Girl, bought at DSW last year
Scarf - (not pictured because it blew off in transit and is forever lost) Corrie's, CNC

I absolutely fell in love with the shops in Berlin. We got around on bicycle (something new to this American girl-- don't try that in our cities, unless you have a death wish!), which meant I had ample time to check out little shops-- and pull over and stop when time allowed! They have a plethora of shops just stocked to the brim with vintage dresses and shoes and what-not. I was in hog heaven, and without the prohibitive price tags, lack of suitcase space, and the flagging US dollar, I might have gone overboard!

Alas, I allowed myself only one item... and that was the creamy lace dress seen above (better picture at the top!). I had been looking for just such a dress for a while, and had even seen contenders at Modcloth and Ruche, but I'm glad I waited as this one is one-of-a-kind (it even appears to be homemade!). There was also something about wearing a dress while riding a bike that made me feel super cute:)

A parting picture of me and Corrie in the local neighborhood photobooth (seriously, it's on the corner outside Corrie's apartment-- shouldn't all neighborhoods have photobooths?!?) goofing off.

Okay, next time I'll tell you a little bit about life in Dubai. Promise.

XOXO,

Wir Fahren Nach Berlin!

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:00:00 +0000

"Berlin is the newest city I have come across. Even Chicago would appear old and gray in comparison."

~Mark Twain, Chicago Daily Tribune, 1892

"Berlin! Berlin! Wir fahren nach Berlin!" (Berlin! Berlin! We're going to Berlin!)

~A chant during the World Cup in 2006

I think I probably mentioned this already (did I?) but for those of you who don't know, I spent the end of September in Berlin visiting some very dear friends there. It all worked out perfectly-- I was able to join my brother and his band on their European tour, and then after the last show in Leipzig, Germany, I caught a train to Berlin. I realize that I've been a TERRIBLE blogger as of late. I sort of got out of the flow when my hard drive crashed, and then lately I've been feeling as if the bar has really been raised in the blogosphere. I mean, there are some AMAZING bloggers out there, and it's hard for me to put together posts that seem like they might be interesting to others.

I'm really trying to do better, but now I am in Dubai, where some of my favorite sites are blocked (Flickr, that means you), and the internet runs, well, really slowly.

That reminds me of a joke: "What did the snail on top of the turtle say?" Give up? "Wheeeeee!"

Just to make this clear, people, my internet abroad is that little snail saying "Wheeeeee!" I never realized how spoiled I was in the ole US of A until I left it. Internet speeds abroad always seem to be dismal compared to what I've got at home.

I digress. Here's a recap of how I passed the 12 or so days in Berlin:

I took a bicycle tour of the touristy bits of Germany, given to me by a ridiculously tall German man.
I got yelled at, in German, by various motorists for not knowing the rules of the road as a cyclist (Sorry!!! I'm new at this!)
I ate yummy German food-- one of my favorite cuisines! (The red cabbage reminded me of what Grandma used to make!)
I sniffled and coughed for about a week, wearing a permanent indentation into Matt and Corrie's couch.
I got to see the church that I've been supporting on and off (more off than on, eeek!) for the past five or so years.
I discovered Berlin vintage shops. Needless to say-- I NEED to stay out of those for the sake of my already anorexic wallet.
Drank WAY TOO MUCH. When wine costs less than water, what's to stop you?
Lost a VERY EXPENSIVE scarf that belonged to my best friend (and witnessed the grace of forgiveness as well. Thanks, Corrie!)
Learned wee bits of German...
Met some of the lovely people that I've been hearing about for years.
Met new lovely people that I admire very much.
Fell in love with cycling.
Developed a MAJOR crush on a new city
Discovered that I really LOVE black licorice
Spent time with two of my favorite-ist people in the whole wide world!

Without further adieu, then,

MY TRIP IN PICTURES

Yes, I think it is fair to say that I fell in love with this lovely city. One day I shall be heading back, even if it is just to visit. Although, with any luck, one day I'll be able to say, alongside Marlene Dietrich, "Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin." ("I still keep a suitcase in Berlin.")

XOXO,

15 (or so) Ways to Charm Her

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:12:00 +0000

My ability to sit down and write a coherent blog seems to have gone straight out the window. Last night I sat and fiddled around on my laptop, for, oh, I don't know, THREE HOURS? I was working on a blog entry that entire time. I may have just decided to scrap the said blog entry (I finally had to give up on it last night and just go to bed).

So, this is what I have resorted to. I've become enamored with another blogger (yes, another one), Miss Meg Fee, who writes in such an engaging way. I discovered her though the equally endearing Taza at The Rockstar Diaries. Anyway, I read this over at The Wild and Wily Ways of a Brunette Bombshell, and I LOVED it. So, I'm reposting here. Hope that's okay, Meg!

I should probably begin by saying that I am a southern girl. At heart. It's actually up for argument a bit (mostly the people who argue with me about where I am from don't really know my history so well). I was born in Augusta, Georgia, which makes me, I think, officially a "Georgia Peach." My first home was in Aiken, South Carolina, which is where both of my parents hail from, as well as the majority of my grandparents (with the exception of Grandma, who was Brooklyn-born, but after living in Aiken for almost fifty years of her life, I'm going to say she can lay claim to that Southerner title as well). We moved quite a bit when I was growing up-- moving from South Carolina to Texas and back again, and then to Virginia, and finally to Delaware. Here's where it gets a bit sticky. You see, Delaware isn't really considered a southern state. As a South Carolinian (which is what I say I am), we see Virginia as barely southern (although I give them major points for being the capital of the Confederacy) which means that Delaware is definitely NOT southern. But, as a girl trying to argue her case for why she's really a southerner, I would argue that while Delaware fought for the north in the war between the states, the majority of Delawareans were in favor of letting the south secede from the union. Moreover, Lincoln actually (unconstitutionally) forced Delaware to support his cause by ordering the Federal army to occupy the state and not allowing the state legislature to discuss the issue (For further reading on Lincoln and the other side of him that you won't find in typical history books, see The Real Lincoln by Thomas DiLorenzo). So, Delaware WAS southern-ish. All that aside, my parents really are true southerners, and they raised me with their mindset and values.

If you still don't believe me, then I submit the following article, which I shamelessly pilfered from Meg's blog. The article explains what southern girls look for in a man, and, well, all of the following items, with the exception of the one about football, resonate with me.

Fellows, take note:

15 Ways to Charm Her
Want to impress a Southern girl? Just think "What would my grandfather have done?"
By Amy Bickers

Number one: We still expect you to give up your seat for a lady. On a bus, at a bar, on a train . . . we don't care where you are. Unless you are at a restaurant and the only lady in sight is the one taking your order, stand up. Now.

On a recent Friday night at a bustling restaurant bar, two friends and I waited for our table to be called. The barstools were occupied so we stood patiently, sipping wine and chatting about the workweek. When a couple nearby stood up, another woman - who had been there less time than we had - swooped in, reaching across us to put her purse on the stool. This isn't the worst part. It's what happened next: her male companion then slid onto the other barstool.

Hang on while I do a geography check. Are we not in the South? If ladies are waiting for a seat and you have a Y chromosome, do you sit down? No, sir. No, you do not.

We know modern life is confusing. The roles of men and women have evolved over the years. As Pink once sang, "Shorty got a job, Shorty got a car, Shorty can pay her own rent."

But come on, let's keep some things old-school. My late grandfather - he of the East Texas upbringing, U.S. Navy captain status, and Cary Grant good looks - would never have allowed a woman to stand while he sat. And if you want a Southern woman to love you, neither will you. So, men, here's a short list of things Southern girls still expect from you.

We still expect you to . . .

[ONE] Stand up for a lady. Actually, this doesn't just involve chairs.

[TWO] Know that the SEC has the best football teams in the nation. Big 12 fan? Hmm, perhaps you should keep walking.

[THREE] Kill bugs. Delta Burke as Southern belle Suzanne Sugarbaker on Designing Women said, "Ya know . . . when men use Women's Liberation as an excuse not to kill bugs for you? Oh, I just hate that! I don't care what anybody says, I think the man should have to kill the bug!"

[FOUR] Hold doors open.

[FIVE] Fix things or build stuff. I once watched in awe as my stepfather built a front porch on the house he shares with my mother. He knew just what to do, cutting every notch, hammering every nail. The project was complete by sunset.

[SIX] Wear boots occasionally. Not the fancy, I-paid-$1000-for-these kind. We're talking about slightly mud-crusted, I-could-have-just-come-in-from-the-field boots.

[SEVEN] Take your hat off inside.

[EIGHT] Grill stuff.

[NINE] Call us. If you want to ask us out, don't text and don't email. Pick up the phone and use your voice.

[TEN] Stand when we come back to the dinner table. "Just a little half-stand is enough to make me melt," my friend Stephanie says.

[ELEVEN] Pull out our chairs. Wait, that's not all. Scoot them back in before we hit the floor.

[TWELVE] Pay the tab on the first few dates. "If you ask me out, you pay," Stephanie says. "If I ask you out, you should still pay." Listen, guys, it's just simpler this way.

[THIRTEEN] Don't show up in a wrinkled, untucked shirt.Care about your appearance, but not too much. Don't smell better than we do. Don't use mousse or gel. You shouldn't look like you spend more time in front of the mirror than we do.

[FOURTEEN] Never get in bar fights. Patrick Swazye might look cool in Road House, but in reality, bar fights are stupid and embarrassing. You don't look tough. You look like an idiot.

[FIFTEEN] Know how to mix our favorite cocktail just the way we like it. Fix your favorite too. Sit down on the porch (it's okay if you didn't build it), tell us how your day went, and we'll tell you about ours.

We'll leave the long list to the girl who falls in love with you.

Meg adds a number [SIXTEEN] to the list which I agree with, so I'll keep it:

[SIXTEEN] Make sure you ask my father for my hand in marriage before asking me.

And, just for fun, I'll add my own [SEVENTEEN] and [EIGHTEEN]:

[SEVENTEEN] Put the toilet seat down! I know it seems silly and like a trifle, but it really does drive me CRAZY!

[EIGHTEEN] Walk me to my car. Especially late at night. When it's dark and scary.

Oh, just thought of [NINETEEN]. I think I'm having a little too much fun with this!

[NINETEEN] Carry my bags/boxes for me. If I am burdened, and you are not, please help!

So, it's a bit of a long list (well, not so long), but really, it's not that hard it is? I am not exagerrating when I say that when a fella does anything on the aforementioned list (especially when it comes to something like helping carry my things, or opening the car door for me) it really makes me swoon.

I can't explain why. Maybe it's because I am, indeed, a southern gal ;)

XOXO,

Here Lies One Whose Name Was Writ in Water

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:12:00 +0000

The two lovers, Fanny Brawne and John Keats, one of his letters to her, and her engagement ring.

I am a female. I wonder if it then follows that I love love stories (or in the words of Ginny Branch Stelling, "I Love Love.") or if it's just because I am a sap. Throw a couple of love letters into the said love story (extra credit if there is poetry) and I am hooked!

In all fairness, I discovered the wonders of John Keats, young English poet, in high school. I still quote his "Beauty is truth, truth beauty, --that is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know." from Ode on a Grecian Urn to myself and friends. I memorized his poem, La Belle Dame Sans Merci in part because I loved the sentiment (and haplessly identified with the titular character) but also because I loved these works of art (by artists who had also been inspired by Keats):

La Belle Dame Sans Merci, by John William Waterhouse and Frank Dicksee

Poor Keats. His poetry was a critical failure in his own time, his lady love seemed to be something of a minx (is she the original La Belle Dame Sans Merci?), and he was dead by the age of 25 from tuberculosis. He also lost both of his parents early in life, and his brother to the same disease.

But this is the stuff of cinema. Director Jane Campion (The Piano) brings the story and the romance to life in this month's Bright Star. It looks good. It probably won't come to Dubai for some time, but if you get to see it, let me know what you think.

And, while you're at it, be sure to check out his love letters. They're intoxicating!

The above postcard is a selected portion from one of the poet's letters to Fanny. The handwriting is my own, a font created by the lovely Frederique at The French Frog. Some of the scrapbooking elements above come from Raspberry Road Designs.

XOXO,

The Edge of Love

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:51:00 +0000

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

~Dylan Thomas, opening stanza from Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night

I've been laid up all week in my friend's apartment in Berlin, recovering from a gnarly cold that I could have only caught on the tour bus (23 death metal dudes and little ol' me. It was an awesome time and I really should post some pictures on here) last week.

While recovering, I've been watching movies online, which is something I never usually do. I'm always too busy doing something else to sit and watch a movie. Or, if I do, I'm on my laptop and not really paying attention. Being sick and comatose forced me just lie there and enjoy a movie.

I stumbled across the film, The Edge of Love, which piqued my interest namely because it starred Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller (also a bad sign since the stars are so big and yet I've never heard of the film-- usually meaning it was a dud), and because it was a biopic of the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. The film really isn't that great, and yet the cinematography is absolutely stunning. There seems to be a painterly quality to the film.

And, I LOVED the 1940s costumes. I think quite possibly that might be favorite era for fashion. Or it is at the moment. I love their hair and their red lips, and the dresses are so pretty! Part of this movie is set in Wales on the seaside, and the girls run around wearing pretty floral dresses with fisherman sweaters and cardigans thrown on top. With Wellies! It made me want a pair of Wellington boots (seriously, I spent a good half-hour online looking for a pair, but as I am heading to Dubai in a week for two months, I don't reckon I would be getting much use out of them).

I knew as soon as I saw the movie that I wanted to do an outfit post about this film. Funnily enough, Sweet Aya beat me to it by about a week, but she has great taste in clothes, so I don't mind a bit.

XOXO,

Say a Prayer for Me...

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:18:00 +0000

I've decided to embrace the rampant Peter Pan-ism that lies within my soul and join my brother and his metal band, Nightfire, in Europe as they do their first European tour. As you can imagine, I am quite excited!

If all goes as planned (as luck would have it, 500 Jet Airways pilots, which is the airline I'm flying, have been on strike the past few days, so I might not be going anywhere), I shall meet my brother and crew in Berlin, Germany tomorrow night.

After the tour, I'll get to spend some much needed time with my very close friends, Matt and Corrie, in Berlin, and then fly from there to Dubai on October 2nd.

If you have a moment, prayers for blessings, safety, and traveling mercies would be much appreciated!

XOXO,

A Really Cool Photo Blog

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:18:00 +0000

by Rusty Ralston via here (or click on the picture)

My friend Autumn turned me onto this "blog," or rather, photo essay that a friend of hers is doing.

His name is Rusty Ralston and his project is entitled,

"30 days (and nights) in the Williamsburg-ish Bushwick-ish section of Brooklyn."

So far, there's only a few pictures posted, but they are haunting in their starkness and austerity. For anyone who is a fan of New York City, or of these Brooklyn neighborhoods in particular, or if you happen to love beautiful photography, then you should definitely check out Rusty's work over on his blog.

I can't wait to see what all 30 days brings!

XOXO,

What'll it be? Sons or Daughters?

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:02:00 +0000

I wonder whether these two would have sons or daughters? Picture via here.

I was reading the October issue of Psychology Today yesterday and came across an article entitled A Chip off the Best Block by Satoshi Kanazawa, Ph.D. It was an interesting read, with the author arguing that the sex of babies is partly determined by factors in the parents' life-- factors such as their beauty, brains, wealth, and sexual promiscuity.

I won't get into it too much, but this theory rests largely on the Trivers-Willard Hypothesis which predicts that wealthy parents have more sons while poor parents have more daughters. As evolutionary biologists, two scientists (Robert Trivers and Dan Willard) argued that it makes more sense for wealthy parents to have sons as sons can reproduce more than daughters, and as they have more money, they can better support their offspring. The son of poor parents is less likely to find mates as his poverty is a discouragement, whereas their daughters, if beautiful, can still marry "up" in the food chain (so to speak).

Here is where it gets interesting though. Using that basis, Kanazawa has expanded the hypothesis to include other factors that help in determining whether a couple has daughters or sons. Here are some of the factors Kanazawa suggests:

"Male" brains beget sons while "female" brains beget daughters. Male brains are good at figuring things out, and examples of people who possess strong male brains are engineers, mathematicians, and scientists. Female brains are good at empathizing, and examples of people with female brain are nurses, social workers, and schoolteachers.
Tall and big parents have more sons (since size is more a benefit for men than women), while short and small parents have more daughters.
Violent parents tend to have more sons (since historically violence was a main means of survival for men).
Physically attractive parents are more likely to have more daughters than sons since, according to Kanazawa, physical attractiveness is more beneficial to women in long-term and short-term mating.
Sexually promiscuous parents have more sons than daughters which is a trait more beneficial to sons as they can drastically increase their number of offspring by being promiscuous whereas daughters will only produce one child a year.

So, if you have higher social status, greater wealth, a strong "male" brain, larger body size, a tendency toward violence, or a tendency toward sexual promiscuity, then you're more likely to have a son. If, on the other hand, you have lower social status, lesser wealth, a strong "female" brain, smaller body size, and are physically attractive, then perhaps you should be stocking up on the color pink.

Thought that was interesting and had to pass it on...

XOXO,

I'm Back...

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:47:00 +0000

My devoted readers! I haven't forgotten you, I promise!

I am now back in the US, and wow, was Turkey an adventure. I would have loved to taken you along for the ride on this blog, but that little Mac snafu sort of put on damper on things. I do hope to upload and share some of my photos of that time, but in the meanwhile, it's time for me to give my old blog some lovin'.

To that end, I am happy to say that I have a brand new hard drive powering my Macbook, so I am back in business! I think it might take me a little time to get used to the discipline of crafting blog posts, but give me a few days, and I should be back in form.

I'm working on scanning some of my photos from a catalog I shot in Istanbul. Here's a little preview:

XOXO,

Birds In My Tree

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:45:00 +0000

In My Tree (wood-block print), originally uploaded by S.britt

“Dear friend, have you found that trouble cuts the cords that tie you to earth? When the Lord takes a child, there is one less cord to fasten you to this world and another band to draw you toward heaven. When money vanishes and business goes wrong, we frequent the prayer meeting, the prayer closet and the Bible. Trials drive us from earth. If all went well, we would begin to say, “Soul, relax”. But when things go amiss, we want to be gone. When the tree shakes, the bird flies away. Happy is the trouble that loosens our grip of earth.”

- From Beside Still Waters by Charles Spurgeon

I read this quote earlier today and it resonated with my soul. I'm still missing my grandma, and the way I have been feeling is beautifully summed up by Spurgeon in this quote. There is indeed one less cord fastening me to this world. And yes, "happy is the trouble that loosens our grip of earth." May He hasten His return...

Bye Bye Blog

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:25:00 +0000

I have bad news.

Last night after having the most amazing night (a boat ride on the Bosphorus with friends followed by a motorcycle ride home), I came home to find my beloved Macbook (which is just got at the end of March) flashing the symbol of a folder with a big question mark. Upon subsequent restarting of the laptop, I've discovered that this is all it will do, although now it seems even the folder is gone, with only a white screen to greet me.

I don't know what happened to the computer. When I left for the evening, my roommate was using my computer to Skype her boyfriend in Russia. She swears that the screen froze while using Skype, and then that symbol appeared. I think there's gotta be more to the story than that, but I doubt I'll ever know what really happened.

I'm stuck in the faraway land where nobody seems to speak English (the Turks I mean), and Macintoshes aren't really the computer of choice here (it still is a PC world after all), so finding someone who can help me fix it seems a bit tough. I did visit the Apple store in Istinye Park Mall but that was a complete bust.

Being computerless makes me quite sad (thank you Dene for letting me use your laptop to write this!) as now I feel all alone over here without the support of my dear sister and everyone else back home.

I shall have to take a break from blogging until I can get this sorted out. Thanks so much for reading, and please do come back once I get everything working again. If you subscribe in a reader (such as Google Reader-- just type www.elventryst.blogspot.com in the subscribe field of your reader) you'll automatically get my posts.

I'll miss you guys tremendously!

xx,
elise

The Clash of the Titans

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:41:00 +0000

Click on Picture to Enlarge (As Always!)

I am a nerd. Those of you who read this blog have probably figured that out already. I love all things Elves (and would love to learn some Elvish), took the time to memorize the English royal lineage (for fun!) from Henry VIII to the present, dream of visiting places like Pompeii (and various cemeteries) on my honeymoon, and I keep a running list of vocabulary I don't know so that I can look it up when I get home.

Well, maybe I'm not a nerd, but I fancy myself one.

This was my FAVORITE movie growing up (right alongside Red Sonya, The Beastmaster, and Conan the Barbarian.  Am I a child of the 80s or what?!?).  The Greek mythology fascinated me; I thought the mechanical owl, Bubo, was awesome; and desperately wanted to be Andromeda so that a Pegasus-riding Perseus would rescue me (Come to think of it, I still would like that).  I thought the effects were awesome, and was especially mesmerized by the miniature pawns that looked like people that the gods in Olympia played with (changing the fates of real people along the way).

I developed a girl crush (definition here) on Miss Andromeda herself, Judi Bowker.  I really thought she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen!  You can see her above in the photo on the left and judge for yourself that she is indeed lovely (and what a tragic existence she leads!)  You really must watch this classic movie if you haven't seen it.

Imagine my surprise when I saw on IMDB that they're making a new Clash of the Titans for 2010.  I don't know much about it (who is this Sam Worthington and Alexa Davalos, playing Perseus and Andromeda, respectfully), but I'm excited.

I'm also looking forward to this movie:

XOXO,

Happy Father's Day

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:22:00 +0000

Today is Father's Day. The first Father's Day was celebrated on July 5, 1908, and was created as a complement to Mother's Day.

Today I am thankful to have a father who loves me (and my siblings) very much. He worked for many years as the sole income earner so that my mom could stay at home and raise us kids. He has endeavored to teach his children right from wrong as well as God's truth. He is a faithful husband, a father who wants the best for his children, an upstanding member of the community, and a devoted and diligent member of his church. He loves the Lord, and loves his family. He continues to work hard, and to support me even now as I enter into my thirtieth year.

Thank you, Father, for all that you have done and everything you have sacrificed for your family. I am so thankful to have you.

XOXO,

Day 22 in Istanbul-- What I Eat

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:58:00 +0000

I've been taking photos of the different food that I get here in Turkey-- and now I've posted it for you to see. I do cook at home, but then it's just chicken with green beans or potatoes. I must say that I really do enjoy the Turkish food.

XOXO,

Day 22 in Istanbul-- Istanbul Collage

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:54:00 +0000

I've been a terrible blogger lately. I'm not really sure what to write about, and, what's more, the internet connection here is terribly slow, making it a headache to try and post anything.

The city of Istanbul is growing on me. It's true that we spend most days in a van, being shuttled to castings (sometimes for up to 12 hours), but it also affords a view of the city that most tourists never get to see. Istanbul is a hilly city and I am consistently amazed by the ability of our driver to negotiate the narrow streets in our van, and, more impressively, to drive the manual-shift car up steep hills without stalling.

I've created a collage of some of the things I am able to spy from the window of our van (actually some were taken on foot as well). Perhaps this weekend I'll be able to do a little more in-depth exploring.

Click for Larger View

Starting at top left, clockwise: The Six Minarets on the Blue Mosque, Two Views of the Bosphorus Strait, the Bridge that connects Asia to Europe, an old Roman Aqueduct, the streets in Old Istanbul, a Gate that we pass every day, Turkish Lanterns in the Bazaar, the Blue Mosque, some Palace on the Bosphorus, the View of my Neighborhood, Tarabya

Falling in love with Tilt-shift Photography

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:56:00 +0000

Have you discovered Tilt-shift photography yet? I'm not really sure about the ins and outs of it, but true Tilt-shift photography uses a special lens that affects the depth of field. The truly amazing TiltShiftMaker will transform your photos so that they look like a set in miniature.

I discovered TiltShiftMaker about a month ago and immediately started playing around with my various photos. Since then, I have started seeing the world in "tilt-shift" i.e., I see scenes that I think would be candidates for the tilt-shift treatment. Such is true of the above photo, taken from the European side of Istanbul, Turkey overlooking the Bosphorus Strait.

TiltShiftMaker enhances the colors a bit as part of the process, but I also tweaked the above picture a bit more in Picnik (which is a wonderful free photo editing site). Here is the original:

By the way, I'm developing a love affair with the Bosphorus. It is so beautiful and I feel incredibly blessed to gaze upon its shimmering waters every day. I'd post a Bosphorus collage, but I have no patience for the s-l-o-w internet connection here.

Until next time,

XOXO,

Looky What I Found!

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:43:00 +0000

Last week I booked two jobs in the city of Izmir, which is an hour flight south of Istanbul, and is referred to as the "Pearl of the Aegean." Hopefully I'll be able to share some photos and details of my trip later, but for now, I wanted to share what I found stuffed in a corner of the photo studio: three vintage issues of Photoplay Magazine.

What a nice surprise! The above issue, featuring the lovely Jeanne Crain, dates from October 1948. It was such a wonderful taste of home to see all of those familiar faces starring back at me (including one of my favorites, Montgomery Clift).

I really love these summer looks. If I were in Delaware right now (instead of Turkey) I'd be sewing up halters and high-waisted shorts/skirts a la Casey. I found this website the other day that sells vintage patterns (some are quite affordable!) with just the look I'm going for.

I haven't been able to sew lately, but I came up with a modern version of the look using pieces from my wardrobe. What do you think?

Shorts: Hudson Jeans Summer '08
Swimsuit: Lux by Urban Outfitters Summer '08
Sweater: Anne Taylor Spring '05
Wedge Heels: Ellen Tracy

One of the articles in one of the Photoplays was a reader poll where readers were asked to predict who would most likely become a star.  The results are quite interesting (in hindsight).  I've never heard of the first place winners (John Agar and Jean Peters) but there are some familiar names on the list: Ricardo Montalban, Montgomery Clift, Janet Leigh, June Lockhart, and America's sweetheart, Doris Day.  Is there anyone else you recognize?

The actors voted most likely to become stars by readers of Photoplay magazine, 1948

XOXO,

Day 14 in Istanbul-- My Day in Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:59:00 +0000

Picture Me

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:59:00 +0000

From my friend Debbie:

Hey Elise, I saw this article in The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jun/07/sara-ziff-teen-modelling-fashion

Since you focus much of your blog on the ins and outs of the modeling industry, I wondered how accurate you found this article to be - who it most pertains to, or if this sort of behavior really is more prevalent than we imagine it to be.

In case you haven't seen it yet, this article has been making the rounds in the fashion-y blogs. Sara Ziff, a 27 year old model who has been the face for Gap, Dolce and Gabbana, Calvin Klein and others, has spent the last five years filming a documentary of the modeling world. With her ex-boyfriend in tow, she filmed the backstage of fashion shows and shoots, interviewing other models along the way. This material has now been turned into a documentary, Picture Me.

A beautiful woman sits in front of a video camera. Her name is Sena Cech and she is a fashion model. Her tone is matter-of-fact, as though what she's about to describe is commonplace in the industry in which she works. The scene: a casting with a photographer, one of the top names in his profession. Halfway through the meeting Cech is asked to strip. She does as instructed and takes off her clothes. Then the photographer starts undressing as well. "Baby - can you do something a little sexy," he tells her. The photographer's assistant, who is watching, eggs her on. What's supposed to be the casting for a high-end fashion shoot turns into something more like an audition for a top-shelf magazine. The famous photographer demands to be touched sexually. "Sena - can you grab his cock and twist it real hard," his assistant tells her. "He likes it when you squeeze it real hard and twist it... Read the rest of the article here.

The question asked by Debbie is if I've encountered this sort of thing in my own experience. I must start by saying that while I was first scouted at the age of 12, my parents were reluctant to let me start modeling until I was much older. I waited until I was 19, when I entered a modeling contest and won a contract with IMG in New York. At that time, I was in school studying fashion design, so I decided to delay my career further, and did not move to NYC to model full time until I was 23. I think starting at such a late age for this industry probably hampered my career growth (I was starting when many girls are wrapping up), but also helped me to avoid some of the situations that the young girls relate in the documentary.

Thankfully, I don't have any stories like that from the article above. I've certainly been in situations where I've done things I've later regretted, but somehow I'm gotten this far relatively unscathed. I remember one time meeting a photographer in his apartment where he asked me to strip down to my underwear so he could see my body. He took a couple of pictures of me in my underwear, and somehow the whole thing (mostly because I could see this guy was a creep) made me feel cheap. I told my agent I did not want to work for him, and he later booked a friend of mine who ended up posing topless for him in the bath. After the shoot (which was not for a paid job, but only for the photographer), she admitted that she regretted doing it and felt taken advantage of.

The stories I can relate are more of a different nature-- having to do with size and diet. There's the time when my agent happened to pass me on the street as I was eating a Snickers bar (the only thing I'd eaten all day). Without pausing, or missing a beat, he simply said, "I hope you're going home to throw that up," as he passed. I've heard girlfriends tell of how their agency gave them a bag of coke to snort before an important upcoming shoot, or how my one friend working in Germany found her roommates eating cotton so they wouldn't feel hungry.

As far as the sexuality end of it goes, I find that my body is not really considered my own. I've been told by a photographer at a shoot, "You do what I tell you. If I tell you to take your clothes off, you take your clothes off. You're a model now, you don't get a say." Last night, for instance, I was told that I have a casting for a underwear job. I don't do lingerie, so I asked my booker about the casting. She told me, "No, it's not for underwear, it's for pajamas. You need to go." So, I went, and what is it for, but sexy underwear. Of course I left the casting, but it took three hours of my time to get there and I did not get back home until 10pm.

My roommates here in Istanbul are all quite young (with Sigrid, at sixteen, being thirteen years younger than me). These girls left home at fourteen, traveling to China, Japan, Italy, England, and France to work. The photos in their portfolios show girls who look much older posing in provocative poses in their underwear. One sixteen year old girl has been repeatedly told she needs to diet, which just breaks my heart as dieting should be the furthest thing from one's mind at that age (especially for a skinny toothpick of a girl!). Daily as they leave for castings, they are exhorted to look sexy.

It's a frustrating business-- certainly not as innocent as it looks on the outside. My hope is that people will see this documentary and that it will open up a dialogue. Perhaps parents will think twice before allowing their young daughters to enter into this industry.

Now I must run... my agent just called and needs a poloroid of me in a bikini. Ugh!

XOXO,

Tie Your Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:50:00 +0000

via swissmiss

I wish I could print this out and stick it up in the model's apartment. I'd put it by the front door as a gentle reminder before the 13 of us piled into the overcrowded van for a LONG day of castings (and where lunch breaks are not usually included).

XOXO,

Day 13-- Back to Istanbul

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:28:00 +0000

Hagia Sofia from the Golden Horn, Istanbul via Flickr

I have to apologize for not blogging lately. You'd think with me being in a foreign country that I'd have more than usual to share. Unfortunately, I've also been just too busy to have any time to write.

The day usually goes like this: I wake up around 7 to take a shower and to ensure there is hot water before the rest of my 13 housemates stir. I move extra slow in the morning, showering and doing my makeup, and then checking me email before piling into a large van around 9:00am. Once in the van, our driver, Koray, drives us girls (and two boys) all over Istanbul to castings. Castings, for those of you who don't know, are the modeling world's job interviews. We do multiple "job interviews" a day-- meeting a catalogue companies, magazine editors, photographers, etc. They're each looking for models for their job (or shoot), and we meet with them and show them our portfolio. The actual interview process only takes about five minutes a person, but getting from casting to casting in the sprawling city of Istanbul (which traverses both Europe and Asia) takes all day. I haven't been home before 10pm since I arrived, which means that I pass a whole day in a hot car with 10 or so other models. It's quite draining, believe it or not. (Think if you had to go to ten job interviews a day, every day).

I did end up booking two jobs last week which meant that I was excused a bit from the tedium of sitting in that van every day and going to castings. What's more, the job was in Izmir, a lovely town in Turkey that sits on the Aegean Sea. I spent five days there, shooting two different pajama catalogues.

I'd love to tell you more about it, and post pictures, but right now I am too tired. I'm hoping that I will have a bit of free time in the morning as our castings are starting a bit later tomorrow.

I do have several new roommates (I swear they keep coming in droves); here they are:

From Top Left to Right:
Sigrid from Estonia, Anne Mai from Estonia,
Gerli from Estonia, Laura from Germany
Junita from Lithuania, Viktoria from Russia
Dene from South Africa, Williams from Argentina

XOXO,

Day 4 in Istanbul-- Europe and Asia

noreply@blogger.com (elventryst) — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:52:00 +0000

Dress: Cache (thrifted)
Stockings: My Own
Shoes: Nine West '09

Last night I went out with my roommates. My flatmates, Alexandra and Anastasija (both models), were supposed to be spinning at this club in town. It was quite funny because neither of them spin, but the club promoted it as model night with DJ Alex and DJ Anastasija. When their time to go on came up, they went to the dj booth and pretended to spin, while the real dj stood next to them and did all the work. What a funny business this is!

I got to wear my little "ice-skating" dress that I picked up in a thrift store two weeks ago. I love it-- it has huge shoulder pads, which I notice are popping up everywhere in fashion right now. You can also see my new bangs that I'm sporting. I'm quite happy with this haircut!

Yummy Turkish-style Tea and Food

We stayed out until 4am, so I slept in quite late. When I finally awoke, I noticed my roomie, Jeanne, getting dressed to go out, so I asked if I could tag along. We went with Koray (our booker) and Anastasija to the Asian side of Istanbul to a sort of a Turkish Bath. (How fun to go to one in Turkey!) After steaming ourselves, we had a nice lunch at the spa, and then we drove to the marina where Koray's friends took us out on a yacht to see Istanbul by sea.

We sailed around the Sea of Marmara and the along the Bosphorus Strait (which divides Europe and Asia), where we saw palaces and famous Mosques. It was quite a day! I am so charmed by this city now-- the history is amazing! I took tons of photos, and hopefully I will post some tomorrow. Until then, here is a little taste:

The View of Sultanahment (Old City) from the Bosphorus Strait.  On the left is the Blue Mosque and on the right is the Hagia Sophia.

XOXO,