Royal Weddings

So in all my internet surfing, I have recently discovered a new love of mine - LIFE.com. I remember going to flea markets with my parents and looking through old issues of Life magazine and being amazed. Not only were they great 'cause they were like a portal into the past, but the images were just so mesmerizing. Then again, I'm a total image freak.

The types of image galleries Life had was insane and I went crazy. I couldn't help myself from venturing into an album titled "Royal Weddings."
Often regarded as perhaps a fairy tale gone wrong, here we have the wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Even though their marriage turned out to be fairly unhappy, their wedding was jam-packed with opulence as expected. Princess Diana looked like an 1980s meringue and her train looked like a giant strip of white paint dragging down the aisle. Oh and those flower girls looked like tiny golden bells. The best part of all was the mug set.

And then there is the famed wedding of movie star Grace Kelly and the Prince of Monaco who met while Miss. Kelly was filming what would be her final film for Hitchcock, To Catch a Thief. Although it is the wedding here with some of the fewest pictures, I like to assume it is immediately my favorite and the most beautiful. I cannot image a more dream-like and glamourous union.

This was Grace Kelly's hand-pearled bible used in her wedding ceremony. So elegant and beautiful, it really is like something out of a 1950s dream.

Well shame on me for forgetting so quickly who this royal couple was... Nonetheless, the images from their day of matrimony still excite me. Just look at all those flower girls and bridesmaids in their dresses. They look like they're outfitted in tiers of ruffles on their shoulders, their busts and the edges of their hemlines. I can't help but see them as poofy glacial fairies. Just imagine how wonderful a hug from someone in those dresses would be. There is also the Princess's tiara, almost too shiny and splendid to be true.

The best part is this image of the bride's lace train. It looks like bed of flowers floating behind her.

I stuck these in here mostly because of its adorable backstory. This beautiful princess, fell in love with her personal trainer. Out of all the pictures I shuffled through, the emotions in these seemed the most genuine. Everyone looks happy and love.

And then of course we have American Royalty. I could not resist. The Kennedys' marriage didn't really work itself out into something beautiful, but rather something filled with secret affairs and ugliness (similar to many other high-profile weddings) only to end in a tragic assassination. The mystery and darkness behind the classic all-American façade really adds an extra appeal to the Kennedys' style (as disturbed as that sounds).

Peter Beard

I first saw Peter Beard's work in the Olsen Twins' Book Influence and have been hooked ever since. He's a master of a whole other realm of collage. Even though it's obviously affected, Beard's photographs appear to be completely untouched and natural. There's something animalistic in each picture's energy. Its hard to say exactly what it is that brings out the natural and alluring grit of each piece, but they just make me want to stare for hours.

I couldn't believe that I even forgot about Beard until I came across shots of Eva Mendes for Above Magazine.

This prompted some more re-exploration. Having lived in Africa for many years, Beard has been known to photograph wildlife but also several celebrities and supermodels like Iman, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Versuchka. Some of his own friends included Andy Warhol, Jackie Onasis, and Bianca Jagger. Bead's collages began in his young age and stemmed from his love for photography. Here are some more of my favorites to enjoy.

Mama Richie

I see that you're basically in love with this, it's okay me too. It's miraculous and heartwarming at the same time that the once notoriously wild Nicole Richie has been "tamed," for a lack of better words. Even with two babies by her side, Nicole is still as cool and funny as she was before. Maybe this time, even more. Reading the interview makes you feel all mushy and happy and actually, really jealous that your mom isn't Nicole Richie.
Maybe it's just my sick obsession with celebrity culture and life or actually, scratch that, just my obsession with celebrity that makes me love famous families and couples.

Vanessa Hudgens

Vanessa Hudgens is possibly one of the cutest and coolest stars to be churned out by the Disney machine. Her claim to fame being the squeaky clean High School Musical trilogy hasn't held her back one bit. There is no question that I have a major style crush on Vanessa Hudgens.
It doesn't matter if Vanessa is dressing herself or being styled for magazines, her boho vibe still shines through. I have basically no words for how amazed I am by her style. I sound like I'm gushing, but really I'm not sure what else to say. Vanessa's outfits are relaxed but still have that wow factor all without looking too slouchy and messy. She's basically like an L.A. gypsy, but minus the stigma.

Swaddled

Like everything else I've posted on here lately, these shots by Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia are old news. I've had them saved to my computer's limited memory for a while, I just couldn't let these go. These pictures of beautiful, rugged and dirty people were just too captivating. A cross somewhere between hobo-chic and "My Side of the Mountain", these pictures made what looked like pieces collected from a late night salvation army rummage beautiful.
And of course, I had to add in anything and everything that crossed my mind while looking at these pictures. Japanese tattoos, giant bunnies, you know, the usual. I saw everything in these photographs from samurai warriors, to the abominable snow man, to giant rabbits, and even the pilgrims of Plymouth Rock.

Olivia Palermo

Lets just take a moment to give Just Jared a round of applause for being the number one distracting agent of my life. Not only has he successfully pulled me away from hours of productive work, but he has also fed my addiction to the internet. But it is post like these that make me remember, why all this unhealthy activity is worth it after all.
Olivia Palermo, the infamous Ice Queen of MTV's reality show The City is is equal parts beauty and style. This spread in ASOS killed me. Just when you think whatever Oliva Plaermo wears can't get any better, this magazine's creative styling team puts her in converse sneakers - something I imagined I'd ever see.
So yeah yeah yeah, this is old, but that doesn't mean it's still not INCREDIBLE.
Eventhough we should all know it was already there, it's still ncie to know that Ms. Palermo hass a rounded out personality unlike her flat and single-faceted persona on television. It's always strange how magazines make you feel like you have insight on famous people. The article makes me want to meet Olivia even more, and add a new subscription to my never ending list. If only I weren't so broke...
I love Oliva's "favorites" of New York City. Why aren't I living there?
Oh god. It's always pages like these that get me the worst. Behind the scenes action. This is where I need to be at too.

RJ

So you know how there are those cool kids in your school that you totally wish you could be? This guy was one of them. Here are some of his lovely artworks to look at for inspiration, and so you can re-evaluate how cool you think you actually are.

Emma Watson

So this was a million years ago, but don't tell me you don't LOVE it. Oh Emma Watson, teach me how to be effortlessly gorgeous. Teen Vogue can never fail. NEVER!

SO, since these pictures were published Emma Watson has ...

a) been going to Brown University. [how this may fit into the timeline with accurate chronology is up for debate]

b) photographed for Burberry's F/W 2010 & S/S 2010 ads. [also scoring a hip musican boyfriend along the way]

c) worn some fabulous clothes and looked pretty like always.

d) finished filming the last enstallment of the Harry Potter serries.

e) starred in a music video with the aforementioned boyfriend.

f) chopped all her hair off.

WHEW. That was a lot. I'm really ashamed I'm so behind on the times.

Mini Horses! Oh GOD, if only I could pet you guys right now. I guess I'll just have to settle for stroking my computer screen at the moment.
HAHA! No longer her boyfriend.

OH! and those leopard tights with that ruffled blouse. I can't even say..

This outfit makes me want to go on a hypothetical fox hunt and drink tea in the open English countryside. Fantastic Mr. Fox anyone?
TULLE!

I'm just curious, who are your style icons and inspirations Emma Watson, cause you're definitely one of mine.

Wayne's World

Well, I never quite understood Wayne's World, and I almost embarrassingly admit that I watched the movie about 3 times in order to try and understand it. But I'm guessing that the beauty of this raucous comedy is that it doesn't need to make sense. After finally realizing this, I actually started to enjoy watching Wayne and Garth prance across my screen. I'd say that these two hooligans and television show co-hosts taught me how to focus on the stupid things that make people happy and be less uptight. I really saw these lessons in the way they dressed, which was grungy and slightly dorky, all at once.

I was OBSESSED for months over hats with bent-up brims and painted phrases. It all started with my shamelessly watching that drama swathed crew on MTV's "The Hills", specifically Audrina's then boyfriend, Justin, or should I say Justin Bobby...

Wearing the studded brow "Garth" glasses, and you know, just chillin with my boys.

[I could be way off base, but I've always wondered if everyone's sudden Bohemian Rhapsody craze came from Wayne's World]

Yeah, This glittery get-up basically kicked me in the stomach with all it's sequined pizzaz. There was no way I was walking out of the thrift store without getting it. I think part of the reason I was so in love with it was that it reminded me of this lovely Southern lady once knew who's attire of choice consisted of anything sparkly and sequined. An added bonus would be if it were in jump-suit form. The built-in shoulder pads made me feel like such a lady of the 80s.

Wearing the Silver-leaf 80s top and Jasmin earrings while trying to push Tia Carrere out of the picture. [virtually impossible.] The Silver-leaf top is so silky soft, it feels like wearing water.. or maybe how I imagine wearing Harry Potter's invisibility cloak would feel.

If you're interested, most of these one-of-a-kind pieces can be found at our etsy store, UEOAI.