Show your love with...biscuiteers!

Valentines Day is drawing near and we all pretty much struggle in the search for the perfect gift. Biscuiteers made the search a lot easier by creating these wonderful sets of sweet biscuits full of romance.

The Black Swan

It seems like everyone is talking about "Black Swan," the recently released film that has already snagged Natalie Portman a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of a ballerina going through a breakdown. (The film goes nationwide this weekend.)
Aside from the riveting plot of the Darren Aronofsky-directed flick, the elaborate outfits by costume designer Amy Westcott and Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte are also attracting much attention.

StyleList was lucky enough to get an exclusive sneak peek of a video that documents the thought process behind the costumes and gives some mouthwatering glimpses at the tulle-packed backstage dressing area.

"The job that we had was to reconceptualize and design ballet costumes for 'Swan Lake,' which is a very classical ballet, but to do it so that it would fit the world of the film," Kate Mulleavy says in the clip.

"Amy's stuff with the Rodarte was fluid and well blended," Portman says, before Westcott explains her costume ideas for Portman's character.

"It's sort of keeping her in that childlike state," says Westcott. "Her basic colors were really white, gray and pink. We were heavy on the pink and squeezing it out by the end. There's one time where she wears black tights instead of pink tights, and that's that one snap when she's sort of on the other side of the fence."

In addition to the costumes, we also got detailed information about the stunning makeup direction from the film's makeup department head, Margie Durand, and makeup designer Judy Chin.

As to how they achieved the Black Swan's signature look, it seems a whole lot of M.A.C products were involved. Beauty junkies, take note.

"We applied a pale ivory foundation with a white cream highlight on the forehead and cheekbones," explains Durand. "To create the swan eyes, we used M.A.C Chromaline in Black Black. Using M.A.C Pigment in silver combined with Mixing Medium, we applied feathery brushstrokes over the Black Swan's eyes. The lips were lined with M.A.C Lip Pencil in Vino and topped with M.A.C lipstick in Dubonnet. We then lined the under-eye with a thin line using M.A.C Chromaline in red."

"We used Mehron pancake makeup with a spray sealant to ensure that it wouldn't rub off on the costumes," Chin says about the super-durable makeup that had to hold up during hours of dancing. "We also used M.A.C Paint Pots, M.A.C Powerpoint Eye Pencils and M.A.C Pigments. In addition, we applied the Illustrator Palettes by Premier Products, which are alcohol-based pigments that are virtually waterproof and rub proof. On the fingertips, we used tattoo inks by Skin Illustrator by Premier Products."

For those who want to try the Black Swan look at home, Durand suggests, "Think 1920s vamp makeup." She adds, "Create the smoky Black Swan eyes with slender, silver eyeliner applied under black wingtip liner and add thin wisps of silver liner over the eyelid, too. Rim the waterline with black liner and top it off with full, feathery false eyelashes. Apply a very matte foundation with contoured cheekbones and a hint of shimmery blush on apple of cheeks. Lips can be matte or glossy in dark eggplant, wine and even black colors!"

Meanwhile, check out this roundup of the top 10 ballerina-themed editorials.

This article was written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano on stylelist.com

A scuola di burlesque

Sfilarsi con grazia un paio di guanti neri, giocando con la propria femminilità in modo leggero e mai volgare. È l'antica arte del burlesque, lo spogliarello a ritmo di musica nato nell'Ottocento e tornato di moda grazie a Dita Von Teese, l'ex moglie della rockstar Marilyn Manson.

A chi vuole conoscere tutti i segreti di questo show erotico, il Micca Club di Roma dedica il corso Burlesque per tutti: quattro lezioni di due ore, dal 9 gennaio al 6 febbraio, che si concludono con un workshop finale tenuto dalla burlesque dancer professionista Indiana Belle (nella foto).

A fare da guida in questo percorso sarà Mademoiselle Agathe, già madrina dell'Accademia dell'Arte del Burlesque, che insegnerà alle allieve come muoversi, camminare, spogliarsi. Ma anche come creare un proprio alter ego sulla scena. Grazie al team di Mod Hair Design, sarà possibile imparare a realizzare le acconciature e il trucco più adatto per questa esibizione. Mentre Lenka Padysakova, fashion designer per spettacoli di burlesque, insegnerà come preparare i costumi e studiare lo stile del proprio personaggio.

Dove: Micca Club, via Pietro Micca 5, Roma
Info e prenotazioni: 06-87440079

The Dresden Dolls

The Life & Times Of The Dresden Dolls - Chapter 1: So Far...

Rock bands are pigeonholed into ever-increasingly minuscule sub-categorizations, but The Dresden Dolls continue to defy explanation and classification. While some have called it theatrical rock, punk cabaret, manic-musical, neo-glam-torch...eventually even the most clever and creative describers shrug and say: "You just have to hear it to believe it."

Living in a two-faced, popular culture built on artifice that demands authenticity; The Dresden Dolls take the world stage, tear down the curtain, rip holes in the veneer and create their own rules, rhymes and reason. For eight years, the duo climbed steadily out of the artistic trenches and into the mainstream of rock on their own terms. The Dolls thrive on their inherent juxtapositions. The musical-theater and new-wave background of writer/singer/pianist Amanda Palmer mixed with drummer Brian Viglione's heavy metal roots created a sonic smear of unclassifiable rock. Palmer wailed; Viglione cackled. It is this dichotomy that supplied the band with a yin-yang quality that kept them hurtling through space, pulling each other to and fro in an endless - and highly entertaining - match of musical wits.

After signing with Roadrunner Records in early 2004, the band enjoyed a whirlwind schedule that included sold-out headlining tours on four continents, an opening slot for Nine Inch Nails (after being hand-picked by Trent Reznor), performances at the world's largest music festivals (including Coachella, Fuji Rock, Roskilde, and Glastonbury), writing and performing in an original musical ("The Onion Cellar") at the prestigious American Repertory Theater, and releasing two innovative & acclaimed live DVDs. For many years, The Dolls' self-titled debut sold strong, steadily scanning 100,000+ copies in the United States alone. Initially released on Palmer's own 8ft. records in the fall of 2003, the album was subsequently re-released upon the band's signing with Roadrunner. The release of two wildly different singles - the manic-punk "Girl Anachronism" and the cabaret-tinged and bittersweet "Coin-Operated Boy" - helped solidify the band's presence on the internet, national radio, and MTV2 (wherein they received an MTVU award nomination for the "Coin-Op Boy" video).

In 2006, the band released their highly anticipated sophomore record - "Yes, Virginia" - to immediate worldwide acclaim. "Yes, Virginia" marked the band's Billboard chart debut in the United States, and also charted nationally in various European countries.

In January 2007, The Dolls wrapped up a string of 40 sold-out shows in an original piece of musical theatre, "The Onion Cellar", which was written and performed in by the band, and produced with the distinguished American Repertory Theatre.

Long-time supporters of the GLBTQQ community, Amanda and Brian proudly brought their bittersweet, smart, and gender-role-defying music to Cyndi Lauper's True Colors tour the following summer. In addition to Lauper and The Dolls, the tour consisted of Deborah Harry, Erasure, Margaret Cho, and Rufus Wainwright amongst others.

Over the course of the next year, the band released a collection of previously un-heard studio recordings ("No, Virginia") and trekked through North America and Europe, playing their final shows together by summer's end.

The Life & Times Of The Dresden Dolls - Chapter 2: New Beginnings...

In early September 2010, fans around the world rejoiced upon receiving a video recorded in Amanda Palmer's backyard, wherein The Dresden Dolls announced plans for a 10th "Bandiversary" show at Irving Plaza in New York City, as well as a smattering of shows across the United States through New Year's Eve in San Francisco, CA. (Click "SHOWS" at the top for tickets or to RSVP).

Fans around the world rejoiced, via the band's official message board, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, blogs, and more. Shows are currently starting to go on sale. Additional info can be found at dresdendolls.com

Be yourself.

Color Splash by Adelenta


"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

As I read this quote I realized that lately I have been losing my real personality. I feel, with great disappointment, that I left behind my artistic side to join the side of majority. Thanks to different artists and a bunch of photos I decided that just because some of my dreams have been taken from me it doesn't mean that I ain't unique or unable to acomplish my goals. I will follow the little artist that's inside of me and that always led me to discover amazing and beautiful things and I will start thinking with my own head again.

Moschino 10th Anniversary show Spring Summer 1994

As I checked the new Moschino Spring/Summer collection 2011 I couldn't help but wonder what did the original founder of Moschino Couture created. The brand itself is famous for being extravagant, strange and really communicative. But what has given it this kind of reputation? Here is some of the old pieces created by him, Franco Moschino. An artist that has touched my heart.

My heart belongs to Moschino

My heart belongs to Moschino by TheRavenIsHere featuring a rayon cardigan

Franco Moschino

« There is no creativity without chaos. »

Franco Moschino (February 27, 1950 - September 18, 1994) was an Italianfashion designer remembered for his witty, colorful, lively and provocative designs which not only challenged, but poked fun at, the fashion establishment. He was born in Abbiategrasso, Lombardy, located c. 22 km from Milan.

Before becoming a fashion designer, he attended Accademia delle Belle Arti in Milan to study fine arts in 1967 hoping to become a painter. To finance his studies, he worked as a freelance fashion illustrator. Eventually, his interest shifted from paints and canvases to fabric and tailoring. His fashion career began in 1971 when he became an illustrator for Gianni Versace, and continued to work for him for another six years. From 1977 to 1982 he designed for the Italian label Cadette. His father died when he was four. [edit] Career He founded his own company, Moonshadow, in 1983 and launched the MoschinoJean-Paul Gaultier of Italian fashion for his highly innovative designs but their styles are different; while Gaultier experiments with different fabrics and shapes, Moschino used basic forms and traditional methods. He also spoofed high fashion lines through his clothes. For example, "Expensive Jacket" was embroidered in gold across the back of a cashmere jacket, and "Bull Chic" on a matador-styled outfit. He also mocked the fashion classics such as the Chanel Couture! label that same year. At first, he designed casualwear and jeans, but his line eventually expanded to lingerie, eveningwear, shoes, menswear and perfumes. In 1988, he launched a less expensive Cheap and Chic line. His designs were very innovative and unusual such as quilted black denim miniskirt with plastic fried eggs decorating the hemline, quilted jacket decorated with bottle tops, plug-socket drop earrings, and bodices made out of safety pins. He was dubbed the jacket with garish trimmings and details. Ironically, many rushed to wear his clothes, thus becoming successful and famous in the industry he satirized.

Since his death causd by a heart attack in 1994 Rossella Jardini, his former assistant, has been creative director of the brand. Moschino clothes have been worn by celebrities such as Fran Drescher on her hit television show The Nanny, Alicia Silverstone, Gwyneth Paltrow and Anna Friel.

http://www.moschino.it/

The Art of Natalie Shau

As we go Down the Rabbit Hole we find the masterpieces of Natalie Shau. Another amazing artist that I happened to find on Deviantart. Between fantastic illustrations, photo-works and digital art you find yourself trapped in a world of beauty, fairytales and horror.



Nell'addentrarci nella Tana del Coniglio troviamo i capolavori di Natalie Shau. Un'altra incredibile artista che ho trovato su Deviantart. Tra illustrazioni fantastiche, fotografie e arte digitale ci troviamo intrappolati in un mondo di bellezza, favole e horror.

The Art of Nicoletta Ceccoli

"...Realismi, surrealismi, voli celesti e approdi lunari in un
universo delicato, a cui accostarsi con riverente
cautela, come fosse fatto di ceramica e porcellana."
( G. Mascheroni)

Today's artist is Nicoletta Ceccoli, she has illustrated many books, mainly in Italy, in the USA and in the UK. Her artworks not only have the ability to bring the admirer into a beautiful world of fairytales and myths but also to unsettle him. Almost to remind that all roses have thorns, be it real life or fantasy. An artist of great talent indeed and that deserves our attenction.

My lost love for...Japan

I tend to forget why I loved Japan so much when I was younger yet there is always something that brings me back to it. It can be anime, manga, traditions, architecture...but this time, as I watched Paradise Kiss, I got an interest for japanese magazines.
Japan always had the ability to stand out, be it in a good way or bad, and magazines are a bit like a mirror for this country. They seem to show exactly how it is.

A country that seem so eager to run away from its own traditions even though it's impossible for it to abandon them while it goes at incredible speed into the future with its technology, fashion and life style. A future full of colors and wonders but wherever there is light there is also shadows.

At Jmagazine Scans is possible to find them, for those curious to have a look at the ultimate japanese fashions even when not speaking the language.

AvantGarde

Avant-garde (French pronunciation: [avɑ̃ɡaʁd]) means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English, to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics. Avant-garde represents a pushing of the boundaries of what is accepted as the norm or the status quo, primarily in the cultural realm. The notion of the existence of the avant-garde is considered by some to be a hallmark of modernism, as distinct from postmodernism. Many artists have aligned themselves with the avant-garde movement and still continue to do so, tracing a history from Dada through the Situationists to postmodern artists such as the Language poets around 1981.

And, what once was considered Avant-garde and maybe way too far off from our reality, it is now considered pure art, things we would happily hang on our walls.


And after all which better way to show an art piece then wearing it?!But the real question is: how do YOU feel about Avant-garde fashion?Clothes that probably no one is ever going to wear no matter how far into the future we try to imagine ourselves in. Yet there is something terribly attractive in this kind of style and no matter what we think, if we look hard enough we might find a glimpse of what could be our future.

Time travelling, steampunk guns and vintage clothes

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Specifically, steampunk involves an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain—that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them; in other words, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc. This technology may include such fictional machines as those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne or real technologies like the computer but developed earlier in an alternate history.


Other examples of steampunk contain alternate history-style presentations of "the path not taken" for such technology as dirigibles, analog computers, or such digital mechanical computers as Charles Babbage's Analytical engine.


Steampunk is often associated with cyberpunk. They have considerable influence on each other and share a similar fan base, but steampunk developed as a separate movement. Apart from time period and level of technology, the main difference is that steampunk settings tend to be less dystopian.


Various modern utilitarian objects have been modded by individual artisans into a pseudo-Victorian mechanical "steampunk" style, and a number of visual and musical artists have been described as steampunk.


If you are interested into getting something vintage-steampunk into your wardrobe here is a couple of links I have found.

http://www.drgrordborts.com
http://www.dracinabox.com
http://www.clockworkcouture.com

Steampunk è un sottogenere della fantascienza, storia alternativa, e fiction speculativa che è venuto alla ribalta negli anni '80 e primi anni '90. [1] In particolare, lo steampunk consiste in un'epoca o di mondo, dove il vapore è ancora ampiamente utilizzato, di solito il 19 ° secolo e spesso epoca vittoriana, che incorpora elementi di spicco o di fantascienza o fantasy. Le opere steampunk spesso presentano tecnologia anacronistica o innovazioni futuristiche, come i vittoriani possono averle immaginate, in altre parole, sulla base di una prospettiva sulla moda vittoriana, la cultura, lo stile architettonico, l'arte, ecc... Questa tecnologia può comprendere macchine fittizie come quelle trovate nelle opere di HG Wells e Jules Verne o tecnologie reali, come il computer, ma sviluppato in precedenza in una storia alternativa.

Altri esempi di steampunk contengono presentazioni di storia in stile alternativo di "Il percorso non presio" dalla tecnologia, come dirigibili, computer analogico, o i calcolatori digitali meccanici come il motore analitico di Charles Babbage.

Lo steampunk è spesso associato al cyberpunk. Essi hanno una considerevole influenza l'uno sull'altro e condividono una base di fans simile, ma lo steampunk si è sviluppato come un movimento separato. Oltre al periodo di tempo e livello di tecnologia, la differenza principale è che le impostazioni steampunk tendono ad essere meno distopiche.

Vari oggetti moderni sono stati lavorati da singoli artigiani in uno stile pseudo-vittoriano meccanico "steampunk", e una serie di artisti visivi e musicali sono stati descritti come steampunk.

Bang Art Magazine

http://www.bangart.it/

BANG ART is a magazine dedicated to hyper contemporary Art addressed to an audience not necessarily of a certain age, but full of curiosity. BANG ART is the only Italian magazine that is circulated from news stands, with skill and lightness, all the new facts of the Italian and international art: pop surrealism & lowbrow, art toys and new illustration, photography and design, coolhunting and video art of last generation. All the trends that affect us across the heart each day are printed on BANG ART, interlocked in a dazzling patchwork graphic, thus assuming a whole new meaning. There are exclusive interviews with illustrators, photographers, painters, film makers, designers, toy makers, designers and generally those who do "good things". BANG ART presents the best creative universe (un) known artists, are those that use all means to express themselves. BANG ART goes to find them, involves them, interview them and print them on its pages ... instead of ink, gunpowder!

BANG ART is a creation of Syrian and Sebastian Barcaroli Flavia Valenti, who look after coordination and graphics.

BANG ART è una rivista dedicata all’arte ipercontemporanea indirizzata verso un pubblico non necessariamente di una certa fascia di età ma pieno di curiosità. BANG ART è l’unica rivista italiana a diffusione da edicola che tratta, con competenza e leggerezza, tutte le nuove realtà del panorama artistico italiano e internazionale: pop-surrealism & lowbrow, art toys e nuova illustrazione, fotografia e design, coolhunting e videoarte di ultima generazione. Tutte le tendenze che trasversalmente ci colpiscono al cuore ogni giorno sono stampate su BANG ART, incastrate tra di loro in un ammaliante patchwork grafico, assumendo così significati tutti nuovi. Vi sono interviste esclusive a illustratori, fotografi, pittori, videomaker, designer, toy-maker, stilisti e in generale a chi fa “cose belle”. BANG ART vi presenta i migliori creativi dell’universo (s)conosciuto, sono quelli che utilizzano ogni mezzo per esprimere se stessi. BANG ART li va a scovare, li coinvolge, li intervista e li stampa sulle sue pagine… al posto dell’inchiostro, la polvere da sparo!

BANG ART è una creazione di Siriana Flavia Valenti e Sebastiano Barcaroli, che ne curano coordinamento e grafica.

Paradise Kiss - The Movie

The popular fashion manga and anime by Ai Yazawa, Paradise Kiss, have been confirmed to have a live action movie adaptation starring JDrama stars, Keiko Kitagawa and Mukai Osamu.

In the Paradise Kiss live action movie, Keiko Kitagawa will play the role of the main character, Hayasaka Yukari, a high school student who is tired of the meaningless and repetitive life that has been forced upon her by her uptight mother; while Mukai Osamu play as Joji Koizumi, an eccentric, handsome, and extremely charismatic student of Yazagaku who has extraordinary talent with a gift for fashion design.


The film is due for release in Japan in May 2011 and honestly I can't wait even though I would have probably chosed a different actor for Joji. What do you think?






Il famoso fashion manga e anime di Ai Yazawa, Paradise Kiss, sono stati confermati per avere un adattamento live action movie con protagonisti le stelle JDrama, Keiko Kitagawa e Osamu Mukai.
In Paradise Kiss film live action, Keiko Kitagawa interpreterà il ruolo del personaggio principale, Yukari Hayasaka, una studentessa di liceo che è stanca della vita ripetitiva e senza senso che le è stata imposta dalla madre severa, mentre Osamu Mukai farà la parte di Joji Koizumi, uno studente eccentrico, bello e molto carismatico di Yazagaku che ha un talento straordinario per il design di moda.
Il film dovrebbe uscire in Giappone a Maggio 2011 e onestamente non vedo l'ora di vederlo anche se avrei scelto un altro attore per la parte di Joji. Cosa ne pensate?

Winterwolf Studio

As I check DeviantArt.com I find myself trapped into the breath-taking gallery of Winter Wolf Studio where style and colors are the protagonists. Here the victorian era mixes with punk, gothic, burlesque but also with the latest fashions and not only. I personally advice anyone to have a look.

Nel controllare DeviantArt.com mi ritrovo intrappolata nella fantastica galleria di Winter Wolf Studio dove stile e colori ne sono i protagonisti. Qui l'era vittoriana si mischia allo stile punk, dark, burlesque ma anche con le ultime mode e non solo. Personalmente consiglio a chiunque di dare un'occhiata.

Sumie Tachibana

Sumie Tachibana is a rising star in the New York independent fashion design scene.
She is known for her bold, dark, and edgy collections with quality and sophistication being the priority.


Sumie Tachibana è una stella nascente nella scena del fashion design indipendente newyorkese.
E' conosciuta per le sue collezioni dallo stile deciso, oscuro e teso con qualità e raffinatezza come priorità.

www.sumietachibana.com

Metal Couture by Willliam Llewellyn Griffiths

The son of an artist and an inventor, William Llewellyn Griffiths is a self taught manipulator of precious metals. He began his career in the jewellery workshops of London’s Hatton Garden over 30 years ago, and his works have since been sold and exhibited throughout Europe, Japan, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Specialising in creating one off commissions for films and high profile clients, his distinct signature has also led to collaborations with designers Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Dolce & Gabbana and renowned shoemaker Terri de Havilland. His designs are a potent cocktail of stones, metals and gems hand-worked into intricate pieces that have an allure of danger, romance and unholy reverence.



Figlio di un'artista e di un inventore,William Llewellyn Griffiths ha imparato da se a manipolare metalli preziosi. La sua carriera è iniziata in una bottega di gioielli di London’s Hatton Garden più di 30 anni fà, e i suoi lavori da allora sono stati venduti ed esposti in Europa, Giappone, Stati Uniti, Australia e Nuova Zelanda. Specializzato nel creare commissioni per film e clienti di alto profilo, il suo talento lo ha portato a collaborazioni con i designers Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Dolce & Gabbana ed il famoso calzolaio Terri de Havilland. I suoi design sono un potente cocktail di pietre, metalli e gemme lavorate a mano in intricate opere che richiamano pericolo, romanticismo e una riverenza diabolica.