Split the difference?
Good morning, Monday...lovely weekend, capped off by catching Woody Allen's newest film, "Midnight in Paris". The movie had me at the opening sequence- with a beautiful montage of Paris, Woody's mistress (refrain from thoughts of Soon Yi, please. I'm stuck in a moment). And what a lover she is- beautiful, heaving, poetic, and magical. Just as I remembered it from our recent trip there. I won't give away any more details of the film, but if you are prone to romantic agony, of why life these days feels sort of useless, unsettling, and unfulfilled, this is one for the cut of your Rimbaud reading jib.
But besides a beautiful setting, I love Woody's other muses, the women in his movies. Rachel McAdams plays a bitchy American to Owen Wilson's hapless LA rookie novelist, while Carla Bruni makes an appearance as a gorgeous tour guide- I can see why empires could fall at her pretty feet. She is absolutely stunning. And then of course, the lovely gaminish Marion Cotillard, the prototypical French beauty. They are all beautiful in their own way, and it's not lost on me how a big part of why I love the Wood Man's movies is that they are stylish as hell. I loved the wardrobe in the film- done by Sonia Grande, who he also worked with on "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". (PS- I mistakenly called Marion Audrey Tatou when I first wrote this post...I am trying to kick coffee and this is what happens...thanks to my friend Alex for pointing it out.)
I love Rachel McAdams in her lovely shirtdresses,belted high and low, with heels and an array of purses that would make most women swoon- all of the French variety, naturally. Her look in the film is very American- high heels and jeans but done with grace and an athletic sexiness that I associate with American beauty.
And Carla Bruni, looking casual and sexy in that "what, this old thing" French way that surpasses trends and gets to the heart of what good dressing is all about- being comfortable in your own skin. True, her skin is nicer than most, but her elegance was not lost on me.
Marion Cotillard, the character who is based in the 1920s Paris of Gertrude Stein and Hemingway, does a great turn as Coco Chanel disciple in fabulous flapper frocks, loose but sexy and not a hint of vulgarity. That's what I love about Woody's gals- they are always sexy as could be but never garish, or in your face. True, he always portrays affluence in his films, and these characters capture that affluent elegance that runs a thread through most of his films.
So if you are feeling a bit blue today and missing the weekend, maybe go see this movie tonight and get inspired- it's not easy to live a romantic life or pretend you are the heroine of a Woody Allen film, but at least for a few hours, you can be transported there- and then take what you want to bring into your own life, point of view, and above all, closet. J'adore...there's a part of each of these girls in my walk-in, that's for sure.
And that's what's up this simply stylish Monday in the MIA. Have a great day wherever you are, and don't forget to dream a little. XO