Edie Sedgwick, An Icon

The iconic muse of the 60's, a Warhol superstar, the It girl - she was Edie Sedgwick.

Edie was an heiress, a socialite, a model and an actress and starred in films like Ciao! Manhattan (1972) and Poor Little Rich Girl (1965). Her character drew many to her, including one of the most famous people at that time in American culture - Andy Warhol could not resist her.

Her look is one of the most recognizable makeup looks to date and set her apart from everyone else at the time. Edie was far from being glamorous but she was fabulous. In a nutshell, her look was wide eyed, heavy false lashes, thick liner, exaggerated geometric crease, thickened brows, pale lips, and slightly contoured cheekbones.When I look at photos and videos of her, all I see are her eyes and the enigma that surrounds them. She's a timeless beauty and even NARS paid tribute by releasing a limited edition Edie gift set under the Andy Warhol collection.

(L-R) Film Star Pure Matte Lipstick in '60s Nude Pink, Stylo Eyeliner in Carpates, Blush Duo in Deep Throat and Amour, Shimmer Eyeshadow Cream in Edie

I watched The Factory Girl (2006) with Sienna Miller and she's looking, acting and talking a lot like Edie in it - the makeup and styling were on point, too. Now I don't recommend watching the movie (I saw it because it was just there in my laptop. Taunting me.) and the saving graces here were Miller's and Guy Pearce's performances. I barely got through to the ending but it did spark my curiosity about the most famous Warhol superstar. There was something in her overall demeanor that captivates, I mean, watch this video and you be the judge.

That's one cool looking contour brush.

Yes, her beauty mark is real but I suspect that she darkens it - just how Sienna did in one scene in The Factory Girl.

 

 

You have to wonder why a beautiful girl like her wore her makeup the way she did and she does explain why this is so.

"I made a mask out of my face because I didn't realize I was quite beautiful. God blessed me so. I practically destroyed it. I had to wear heavy black eyelashes like bat wings, and dark lines under my eyes, and cut all my hair off, my long dark hair. Cut it off and strip it silver and blonde. All those little manoeuvres I did out of things that were happening in my life that upset me." - Edie: American Girl (source)

I thought she was far more beautiful and enchanting without the makeup.

The 60's had Edie Sedgwick, who do do we have now? Who do you think is the muse of this/the past decade?


*Images courtesy of Facebook & Stylebistro

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Movie List #2

Lincoln (2012)

I don't know much about the Civil War but this movie was an effective avenue of shedding light on what Abraham Lincoln went through for the greater good of his nation. He certainly wasn't a saint and had his own personal issues going on but here was a man who did everything he could to make things right. Daniel Day Lewis is now my favorite American President. The end credits (which I also enjoy watching, were a bit of a revelation, too. It wasn't the usual, "Soldier 1 played by Joe Jones". Every single character played in the film was a real person, had a real name and had a credited role in American history. The movie being this detailed and historically accurate is an incredible feat and it was a thrill to watch the downs and the ups of Lincoln's government until the time of his assassination.

To quote from the late and great Roger Ebert's last review of a Spielberg film:

The hallmark of the man, performed so powerfully by Daniel Day-Lewis in "Lincoln," is calm self-confidence, patience and a willingness to play politics in a realistic way. The film focuses on the final months of Lincoln's life, including the passage of the 13th Amendment ending slavery, the surrender of the Confederacy and his assassination. Rarely has a film attended more carefully to the details of politics. (source)

The Croods (2013)

I saw this on Easter Sunday at Greenbelt 3 and after hearing that G.I. Joe 2 would just be a waste of a ticket, I opted to watch this animated movie instead. It was lighthearted family movie with Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds and Nicolas Cage lending their voices to these insane but fun bunch of characters. It got a lot of laughs out of me so I can't complain. 

Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

This movie confused me - in a good way. I kept questioning myself if the situations Hushpuppy lived through actually happened or maybe these were representations of a six-year-old's reality. This movie seemed like a lot less glamorous Life of Pi-stylized movie with a bit of Hunger Games camera work in the mix but it was rooted on an amazing story nonetheless.

Quvenzhané Wallis, who played Hushpuppy, was only 6 years old at the time of filming and her acting was so good, of course, she had to be nominated for an Academy award (youngest one to be nominated, might I add). Dwight Henry also delivered a memorable performance as Hushpuppy's father, Wink, who you won't warm to at the beginning but eventually won me over.

Disco Pigs (2001)

I don't watch a lot of Irish films but if Cillian Murphy's in it, I have to watch it. Disco Pigs is Enda Walsh's creation for theatre and the story was so good, it had to be adapted on film, too. This is the story of the Pig and the Runt and their turbulent and volatile relationship as friends. Cillian serves one of his most powerful performances here and Elaine Cassidy, who I had no idea was Irish when I saw her first in Harper's Island, does so as well.

I've been busy watching these brilliant TV shows, too: Sherlock, Game of Thrones, The Following, and Hannibal. 

What have you been watching this past week?

If you're curious, here are my other movie lists. ;)

*March 31 - April 13, 2013
*Images courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes

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MAC + Hayley Williams

Hello, Summer - The color of the scorching sun rays comes in a form of a bright orange lipstick.

The color reminds me of the movie "Sunshine".

Hayley Williams is undeniably on a sizzling hot streak. Paramore launched their fourth album last month and the music video for their second single "Still Into You" (which of course is still prompting some mixed reviews) was released just this week. In the video, Hayley's all pretty in pink and in other pastel colors and is sporting some crazy "shorter-than-the-average" Betty Paige-inspired bangs. Now MAC cosmetics has unveiled their collaborative efforts with Hayley which is an online-exclusive collection comprising of these four products: lipstick, eye shadow, mineralized highlighter and nail polish.

(L-R) Limited-edition shade of Sounds Like Noise lipstick; Mid-tone coral with a frost finish eye shadow; Velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish; High gloss, Cream formula in bright orange nail polish

Vibrant orange may be her signature color but definitely not mine. I just don't like the color orange on me & I don't think the shades here would best suit my skin tone but I'd still love to try out her coral eye shadow. Seeing the collection on Hayley, orange seems like it was really made for her and her porcelain white skin.

I'm having serious eyeliner envy with this picture.

Now I'm definitely liking this makeup look more than their latest single but I am still a fan of her amazing voice though.

Are you feeling this MAC + Hayley Williams collaboration? Do you have any orange in your makeup collection right now?

*Images courtesy of MAC & Temptalia

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Beauty Onscreen: Emma Stone

Those large green eyes and that distinct low pitched voice - Emma Stone has the talent and an endearing screen presence that easily makes her everybody's girl crush.

Golden Globes 2012

I've first seen her as the witty and opinionated teen Olive Penderghast in Easy A (still my favorite movie of hers) and since then vowed to watch whatever movie she's in. I've seen her in Zombieland, The House Bunny, Crazy, Stupid, Love., The Help (she was still cute despite wearing the most hideous looking wigs I've seen in a movie), Friends with Benefits (a cameo as Justin Timberlake's John Mayer-obsessed girlfriend), The Amazing Spider-man (where she went back to her original blonde roots and had almost everyone wanting her to go back to being a redhead) and The Croods (she lent her voice to the curious Eep Crood). Her next movie is The Amazing Spider-man 2 where she'll be reprising her role as Gwen Stacy and that will be out on May 2014. Hopefully she gets to do more SNL gigs while waiting to see her on the big screen again.

Easy A (2010)

Gangster Squad (2013)

Zombieland (2009)

The Amazing Spider-man (2012)

She's usually fresh faced in movies since she has the best skin and loveliest freckles to show off but on the red carpet, she takes risks on the beauty department. I guess it makes sense for someone who's not afraid to be goofy and funny in front of people to not be afraid of trying out & having fun with different makeup looks as well. Emma often wears her flicked out eyeliner and Just Bitten or ColorBurst lipsticks (she's a Revlon girl after all) but doesn't shy away from bright to smokey and dark colors. Here are  some of my favorite looks of her on the red carpet and her makeup artist, Rachel Goodwin, evidently can do no wrong by her.

Pink eyeshadow and black liner at the 2012 Oscars

Bright fuchsia lippy at the 2011 Conde Nast Traveler Annual Hot List Party

Metallic smokey shadow with a peach lip at the 2012 UK Premiere of The Amazing-Spider-man

A soft cat eyeliner with a nude lip at the 2010 Trevor LIVE event (might I add, her hair looks like silk here)

All bronzed up & wearing navy blue liner

Glossy red lip at the 2011 NYC Crazy, Stupid, Love. Premiere

Do you have any favorite makeup looks of hers & have you tried to recreate any of them? 

What's your favorite Emma Stone movie?

*Images courtesy of Facebook.com/Emma.Stone & Rotten Tomatoes

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Movie List #1

You know how some people sleep listening to music? I sleep to the sound of movies because it's my happy place. I get to see a bunch (like 3-5) of them every week and I'll be doing a list of what I've watched within the week so when you're bored and don't know what movie to watch next, you can take a look at one of my movie lists and get an idea or two from it. ;)

Django Unchained (2012)

This has been highly praised by critics and viewers alike although there have been mixed feelings out there about the film, too, due to the nature of the plot. It's set during a dark period of slavery and racism so expect a lot of offensive language and disturbing scenes here - just like any good 'ole QT movie of course. So that being said - I loved the movie. It made me laugh and the chemistry between Jamie Foxx's Django & Christoph Waltz' King Schultz was so enjoyable to watch. DiCaprio as the antagonist Candie was deliciously (no pun intended) evil here, which I honestly thought deserved a nomination, too.

Red Lights (2012)

I have the biggest crush on Cillian Murphy so I have this biased opinion that whatever he's in is nothing short of amazing and he rubs off his brilliance in Red Lights. Anyway what you have to know about the movie is that it revolves on the investigations of supernatural/paranormal phenomena and you get to see some serious acting chops from Sigourney Weaver and Robert DeNiro.

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

I keep forgetting that Jennifer Lawrence is only 22 years old with the performances she gives (remember Winter's Bone?). I thought she deserved her Best Actress win here, especially after blowing my mind away with this scene and many more. I think this is a charming film that's a cut above the other generic romcom movies out there.

Yes, that is Julia Stiles in the family portrait - in case you were wondering.

Hitchcock (2012)

When I first saw the trailer, I didn't even recognize it was Sir Anthony Hopkins playing the legend that is Alfred Hitchcock. Kudos to his makeup team which deserved their nomination for Best  Makeup & Hairstyling in last year's Academy Awards. 

Dame Helen Mirren plays his wife, Alma, and "Hitchcock" focuses more on their relationship during the making of Psycho than the actual making of it. Hopkins is so spot on with his Hitchcock and you can take a look at this clip for comparison.

"You may call me Hitch. Hold the cock."

*March 24 - 30, 2013
*Images courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes

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