Wrapped Up In Books

I hope you feel very privileged because today, dear readers, I'm going to share with you a few of my favourite books. I know - I am too kind. (Sincerely though, I can't recommend them enough!) The following are books I keep re-reading, being inspired by and passing them on to my dearly beloveds...
Nylon: Pretty

Nylon magazine has arguably the most original approach to beauty journalism. Instead of just telling us what makeup was going down the catwalks that season, it refers to figures of pop culture as inspiration - not just your standard Audrey Hepburn either, but more quirky options such as Anna Karina and even Prince. This book compiles a comprehensive list of beauty icons from the 20's to the present, alongside cult products, ten most evocative perfumes, iconic hairstyles and illustrated makeup looks, alongside millions of inspiring beauty editorials. Written in amusing, intriguing fashion, I regularly look to this book for beauty inspiration.

The Cheap Date Guide To Style

Based of the now-defunct Cheap Date magazine, this book is rather unique and like no style book I have read before. Unlike most style books, it does not prescribe a specific formula to be considered 'stylish', instead focusing on experimenting, originality and making mistakes. It features interviews with style legends such as Anita Pallenburg, Vivienne Westwood and Chloe Sevigny. It's very student-friendly as the book focuses on CHEAP shopping such as charity shops and jumble sales, which is just as well because every time I read this book I want to go shopping. 

Burlesque And The Art Of The Teese/ Fetish And The Art Of The Teese

Dita Von Teese's wonderful book is split into halves - the burlesque half is saucy in a beautiful, family friendly way and the fetish half is, well, complete with rather risque photos of the stunning Ms Teese. Perhaps put it out of sight when elderly relatives or those of a nervous disposition are visiting. This book is a mishmash of autobiography, the history of burlesque and fetish and profiles of specific figures in the glamour field, all the while heavily scattered with amazing photography. The costumes are so decadent and beautiful your jaw will drop! But my favourite part is Dita's detailed analysis of the looks of the decade, and tips on how to reproduce them yourself. Dita is surprisingly humorous and you can tell she has a huge passion for all things vintage and burlesque.

The Perks Of Being A Wall Flower

Probably my all time favourite novel, I've read this a ridiculous amount of times and passed it on to pretty much everyone I know! It is a modern retelling of the classic Catcher In The Rye - another of my favourites. Written in the form of anonymous letters, it centers around the awkward, troubled yet intelligent Charlie and his life after his only friend killed himself. But this novel, despite the serious issues, is actually full of touching, heartwarming and laugh out loud lines as the introverted youngster makes new friends and even falls in love. 

The Rotters Club

I was inspired to read this after seeing the TV series aaaages ago (did anyone else see it?) and I'm glad I did! Set in Birmingham in the Thatcher era, it is a wonderful coming of age novel full of hilarious little anecdotes, such as the lovable protagonist, Ben, finding a pair of swimming trunks in a locker and seeing it as a sign from God!

The Virgin Suicides

The novel which my favourite Sophia Coppola film is based upon. Centered around the five Lisbon sisters as they begin to rebel against their parents, lose a sister, fall in love/lust and become imprisoned in their own home. A word of warning though: As the title suggests, there isn't a happy ending...

Faithfull

Ms Faithfull is one of my heroines and I took this autobiography out of the library merely to learn more about her life. I wasn't expecting such a witty, intelligent and fascinating recollection of one hell of a life. This lady has done everything from being filthy rich and bed hopping with The Rolling Stones, to being homeless and addicted to heroin. 

Born Again Vintage

I WANT THIS BOOK!!!! According to my research, it teaches you how to re-work unwearable vintage items into unique, covetable items. It sounds pretty amazing.

Has anyone read any of these books; if so, what did you think? What are your all-time favourite books?

Like A Virgin

The Virgin Suicides is Sofia Coppola's first full length feature, and one of my favourite films of all time. It's an almost Grimm-esque fairytale about the five beautiful Lisbon sisters, in the prime of their lives but trapped by their... well, not evil, let's say over-protective, parents. Set in 1970's suburban America, the girls sport some rather lovely, floaty, romantic creations that wouldn't look out of place trotting down the Chloe runway today. Lux, the most rebellious of the sisters, favours high waisted shorts and flowery cheesecloth tops for sunbathing in the garden, and dresses skimpy enough to bring her strict Catholic mother out in sweats! Meanwhile Cecelia, the youngest, prefers to float around in a 1920's wedding dress with the hem ripped off to the knees. And Lux's love interest, the divine Tripp Fontaine, wears some impressively kitsch corduroy suits and paisley shirts, not forgetting his signature aviators to make the girls swoon. 

Along with the costumes, Sofia has thought of everything to really make this film's aesthetic so ethereal. Special lighting techniques ensured the girls hair and skin were positively glowing, giving them an angelic, surreal look. Realistically depicting a house full of teenage girls, the Lisbon's bedrooms are over-the-top feminine and charmingly cluttered, with everything from empty perfume bottles to Catholic memorabilia. The score of the film is spot on, fusing nostalgic seventies numbers such as Heart's 'Magic Man' with the eery, electronic sounds of the french band Air, who composed a whole album especially for the film. Overall, this film is an excellent introduction to Coppola's films yet to come. Enjoy... 

Sofia, You've Got to See Her!

Sofia Coppola is the actress turned designer/ model/ muse responsible for some of the prettiest, dreamiest films around, her most prolific yet being The Virgin Suicides, Lost In Translation and Marie Antionette. She also bought us THAT White Stripes video featuring Kate Moss. The black and white video for 'I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself' showed the world's most famous super model writhing, cavorting and dancing around, ricocheting the band, the model and the director to further international fame. And you've no doubt found yourself humming along to the 'day in the (fabulous) life of' style ad for Miss Dior Cherie, featuring Bridgit Bardot's Moi Je Joue. 

Coppola's professional trademarks are sun-bleached, sugar-coated but haunting imagery juxtaposed with modern, punchy music, and Sofia is her own best advertisement, rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in fashion and music. Her own personal style fits the aesthetics of her films, favouring girly, elegant garments, and she has become a style icon of down town, New York style, and is regularly featured in best dressed lists. I suppose it can't hurt being Marc Jacob's best friend. Here are a few of my favourite outfits of hers, as well as a some images from her work... 

P.S. The Virgin Suicides and Marie Antionette are so wonderful that they require their own posts... watch this space.