Hello, Ruby Tuesday. Who could hang a name on you? (I think I just did).
So with all of this hoo-ha surrounding the latest high end designers going low rent (Marni for H&M, Jason Wu for Target, Doo Ri for Macy's), it's hard not to get excited about the affordability and accessibility of great style. I have been a fan of all three of the above for years- I wore Doo Ri a million years ago when she used to be headquartered in the East Village, and Marni clothes always remind me of cool chicks in art school. And needless to say, Jason Wu is a talent supreme- his ladylike nods to a vintage aesthetic are always the end.
And speaking of the Wu man, I love that his inspiration for this upcoming Target collection channel les jeune filles of the French New Wave. For those of you not so film buffish, the French New Wave was a period of filmmaking in the late 50s and 60s that celebrated what Wikipedia refers to as a "youthful iconoclasm". As youth culture was seizing the States with bobby socks, ponytails, and rock and roll, the French got in on the game by giving us a stylized, modern, and innovative take on filmmaking with a heaping dose of whimsical fashion.
And its big stars were the likes of Jean Seberg and Anna Karina, who were divine creatures and stunning examples of young beauty. Thoug they were feminine, they were not prissy in any way- a bit saucy yet somehow still innocent. There was a fresh faced beauty combined with a new sensual confidence, and I just love, love, love the look of these chicks, don't you? Hats off to Mr. Wu for summoning the icons of the French La Nouvelle Vague for his upcoming collection. I am sure it will be a tremendous hit. (And how much do I love that little kitty with the red scarf serving as collection mascot? Genius).
As for today's versions of these girls, look no further than Michelle Williams and her gaminish pixie, and Zoe D. with her eyes as big as saucers and goofy countenance. With temperatures at a happy mild medium, go and stick a little ribbon in your hair, put on a pretty dress and shamelessly flirt with somebody very cute. Oh, and mark your calendars for February 5th, when Mr. Wu's collection hits Target, online and in store. Rest up, kittens. Rest up. Cause that's what's up this carefree kind of Tuesday stuck inside the movie "Breathless" kind of Tuesday. Going for a bit of the Bardot, Deneuve, Seberg, Karina today...). Maybe I'll show you how the men do the French New Wave thing à demain. If you want to know how to dress like the French New Wave girls, just channel that feeling of meeting a great love of your life, kissing them for the first time, and wanting to wear a dress because you just feel so damn pretty. XO (en Francais).