It's sad to think we live in a world where people don't know about the beginnings of popular music - also known as musicals. I know some people tend to think they are cheesy or over the top - but then when you look deep into your favorite genre's music, they all are connected by one singular thing, musicals. Musicals started everything when it comes to the music everyone else chooses to listen to. We wouldn't be anywhere today without the Broadway musical, especially when it comes to the mature subject matter that music can bring us. This is why I bring to your attention a musical only a wee bit older then myself, that has remained a favorite of mine and I hope could become or is already something you whistle or sing on occasion.
I was lucky enough to be invited to a special 1 day only screening of Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert, recorded back in October at the O2 Arena. This show and location is both infamous in size and beauty - which is why this was something I couldn't miss. Les Mis has been a favorite mine since I was little, being raised on Cameron Macintosh and Andrew Llyodd Webber shows - this was one of the staples even in it's recent creation in the 90's.
Ever since I can never seem to escape the story or the entire world of Victor Hugo's masterpiece. First off, if you don't know the story of Les Miserables, I recommend reading the official website, in it's most epic of layouts and designs.
The story can easily be described as that of the essential human struggle of good and evil in all of us. No character is really pure, they all have a duel side to them that you can argue to be one to defend or go against. But overall I can never seen to properly express how perfect this musical is - but let me dive into the details of this specific performance.
This features what I believe to be on the coolest casts that the show has had. Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean gives some real Opera cred to the role, along with key members Matt Lucas (Little Britain) and Nick Jonas (If I have to tell you who he is, I think that's a big problem.) Not all of these members exactly carry the talent to represent this show perfectly (cough - Jonas), but the majority of them filled their roles to perfection - especially Boe and Lucas, new comers to the production. To find out more about the members, check out the official concert website. The highlight performances for me this time around were Matt Lucas's Master of the House, Anytime Boe got to sing (also basically his entire performance), On my Own, and also the entire performance of a new love of mine Ramin Kamiloo. You might know of Ramin from his new role of Eric, The Phantom in Love Never Dies (Which he also played the original Phantom.)
But what was the one flaw of this production? You guessed it, Jonas. I apologize for those who are Jonas fans reading this - but as a true fan of this musical, hearing the role of Marius played by a little boy instead of a man was truly disappointing. Granted, he's probably the only one to play Marius who was actually the characters age, but still when one new singer is over taken by the original singer who is almost 50 - we have a problem. Overall? I was so pleased with this production. It meant a lot to me, especially when my mom and me were convinced we'd somehow see this exact production live 15 years ago. Sadly, we didn't get to see it actually live - but this was just as good and close as we could. Frilly Musical? Go for it period/historical story telling lovers! Les Miserables The 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 is not something you should miss! You can pre-order your copy on DVD and Blu-Ray here. (US version should be available soon as well!)LVF Grade: 4 headbows out of 5
In 2010, we got a frilly horror film in The Wolfman - and in 2011, we will get an even more girl powered frilly horror film in Catherine Hardwicke's Red Riding Hood. This is expected to be one of those films that will be instantly become a cult hit and all over obsession with those into subculture fashion and music. Though many reflect on Hardwicke's work based on Twilight, I truly love her other films and feel she doesn't get any respect as a real filmmaker (Thirteen being my favorite.) I'm also a huge Amanda Seyfried fan, who plays a new dangerous version of the title character. Did I mention Gary Oldman is in this too? Get ready. (Link for my info)
Now granted, This movie is ridiculously hard to find and it's probably more geared towards Halloween - yet I think Thanksgiving works for it too! So here is a little Dress Up Time treat - I picked for this week Polly from The Scarecrow. A cute cheesy little animated gem by Richard Rich, creator of the Swan Princess.
This movie tells the story of The Scarecrow, who by the magic of a fairy godmother, comes to life in human form to help his love - Polly. An orphan girl who is attempting to be enchanted by the evil rich Grisham. Scarecrow (Or Feather Top, as he is later called) must save Polly and the other orphan children, but without anyone knowing his true identity. It's cute - nothing extremely special but I do think it's one of those fun movies you can watch to get that youthful feeling about the holiday's and fall in you.
In terms of an outfit, I decided to go with my own interpretation of Polly, rather then a literal outfit from her color scheme. Polly seems to be a dark red head, so I chose this neat brown outfit to compliment her almost brunette tones. First I chose a recently added Baby jumperskirt, along with a long Forever 21 sweater that seems really comfortable! Polly tends to only have a few articles of clothing, so you need to keep yourself warm.
Then I chose a cute slightly off color tartan scarf. It compliments the strips on the dress and makes it look a bit mix/matchy, as Polly looks usually. I picked a nice comfy pair of boots, along with a big brown bag to help Polly carry her shoes for the other Orphan kids! The final touches are that of a feather necklace, paying tribute to Feather Top (since Feather's are a key object in the story) and a cute little black (or brown works) bow to place in her hair.
I adore this outfit, and even with all it's cheese, I love the movie too. Fun fact: Corey Feldman plays Max, the rat companion of The Scarecrow. It always makes me laugh when I see this movie, just on that alone. If you'd like to see The Scarecrow, it's been kindly uploaded to youtube here. So go on an adventure with your own Scarecrow!
It is now officially the fall, as November has just begun! LVF is going to be a bit spars for a little bit, as mentioned that I'll be filming my thesis in a week. But while you wait for more fun posts, I've added some cool features on the sides of the blog.You'll notice on the right is a new section called Frilly Video of the Month! Here you can check out a super fun and lolita (or just frilly-loving) video to help you get excited for your day or month! This month's video is Misako Aoki, when she visited Hyper Japan in London. I love the way she talks with the audience and her lovely atmosphere!
Also posted on the right is My Favorite Coordinate of the Month! If you'd like to enter in for next month (I'm looking to go the blog with a Christmas theme, so the more winter-like, the better!)This month, I chose a coordinate from MintyMix (Kammie) in her Melty Chocolate JSK and brown boots! To submit a coordinate either comment on this post or email me at drowell90@yahoo.com!
If you haven't noticed, the layout changed as well. When Christmas rolls around, I hope to decorate the blog up for the holidays and the 1 year anniversary of LVF (I can't believe it...). Look for more cute graphics and fun little knick knacks all around the blog.
Have fun looking around and as always, look out for more reviews and Dress Up Time posts!
After almost 100 entries and so many fantastic outfits, I have come to a very hard and demanding decision.... the top 3 of La Vida Frill's "My Personal Dream Outfit Contest". Before we get started, I wanted to share with you all my favorite entries (since there was so many I wanted to win!) Here on my flickr account (click link).
And now, drum roll please......In 3rd Place, we have Madison with her Pride and Prejudice inspired outfit:
Description: "This outfit really shows off the side of me that loves a classic, elegant look. I adore autumnal colors, especially dark reds, and I have always dreamed of owning a dress in such a shade. I included cream-colored socks and a cute cutsew to add a bit of sweetness to this otherwise mature look. There is also a feather hair fascinator present for a bit of vintage flair. However, my favorite piece in this ensemble has to be the ring shaped like a longhorn skull. It adds a slightly macabre element and subtly shows off the darker side of my personality. And of course, I just had to put in Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth (I'm a huge P & P fan)! This would be my ultimate dream outfit (and looking at those prices it will have to remain as such...)"LVF Thoughts: This coordinate is classy in so many ways! With all the interesting elements of subdue colors, longhorn skull ring and, not to mention the fantastic movie inspiration - this outfit really has a lot going for it. Madison has her own unique take on style that is her own vision and truly shows! She takes risks in ways that turn out fierce and elegant. In 2nd place, comes in Miss Lumpy's blue dream coordinate:
Description:"Unsurprisingly, the main color in my coordinate is, as always, light blue. One of my favorite pairings is light blue with dark colors like black or navy; with autumn setting in, I've really been feeling brown lately because it reminds me of whipped hot chocolate and thick vegetable stew and all the other delicacies of autumn. The main reason this outfit embodies my personal style is because it's vintage-y classic lolita enhanced by quirky, eclectic accessories that still remain elegant. I've paired my favorite bonnet, a custom piece by Ophanim Gothique, with a beautiful JSK by Mary Magdalen and a flowy sheer blouse by Victorian Maiden for that classic, old-fashioned look. Because it's getting chilly here, I'd probably feel like jumping off a bridge if I had to cram my feet into uncomfortable, breezy heels; these boots are almost exactly like my personal cool-weather staple, a pair faux-fur-lined vintage leather boots from a thrift store on the Lower East Side, paired with a lovely pair of cream lace tights. These shoes are so comfortable I wear them as slippers on fall evenings! Though I'm usually a big proponent of bags you can live out of, these days I've been packing up a small pochette to tak to class with my bookbag, so I'm confident that maybe I'll be able to use a teeny-weeny clutch like this adorable piece by YSL. Speaking of practical, some of my classes absolutely forbid the use of electronics, so I've invested in a cute rhinestone watch - if only it were this beauty! I'm channeling my newfound love of mori-girl (a love for which I was in serious denial for a time but just can't escape anymore!) with a fur collar and a crazy stag-head ring, and of course, keeping it classy by piling on the pearls until they're practically dripping down my fingers."
LVF Thoughts: I'm such a sucker for blue, let's just face it - and with that in mind, Missy Lumpy has got me craving some more pastel ocean colors in my wardrobe. To the deer ring and my personal favorite touch, the letter shaped purse, this outfit has a great style and fun that I always crave for. You can tell this outfit has a lot of dreams and whimsy put into it! And now.... the moment you've all been waiting for... the winner of The Dream Outfit contest is....1st Place goes to Lolita Wonderland, and her mint and red outfit: 
Description: "I simply adore the Milky Berry JSK in mint. I love the combination of mint and red and decided to use those colours in the accessories. I chose to keep the strawberries in, because they’re one of my favorite fruits. I wanted an umbrella and a bag and was lucky enough to find two adorable combinations of red and white.I adore white blouses with short sleeves, especially a couple from Baby, so I added that too. This was the last coord I made. I got a bit lazy, so I used full pictures instead of cutting them."
LVF Thoughts: When looking through all the entries this morning, I couldn't help but dive into the world of Lolita Wonderland. Now granted, looking simply at the coordinate and some of the basics, maybe this isn't what I would have originally chosen. But, something sparked my interest and that was the spirit behind the dreams and fantasy coming from this outfit. Wonderland seems to truly love and respect this fashion and it's magical, which is what I looked for in the entries overall! That sparkle and wonder when it comes to Lolita really showed in this, and I just adore it. She has the magic and twinkle many of you and I myself, had when starting in Lolita and this is something I was amazed by. To see more of Lolita Wonderland, go here. So there are the winners! I'm so happy with the response to this contest and I hope you'll join in the next one (Coming this December!)If you were a winner of the contest, please email me your address at drowell90@yahoo.com, so prizes can be mailed to you as soon as possible. Keep on the frills ~ LVF.
I thought it might be fun to do something a bit more on the frilly side then the film side for a bit each month with some of my Frilly Goals! Maybe reading these will inspire you to do something similar things with yourself when in the poof and splendor!
- My most important goal for November right now is finishing my Thesis film. It is my most important project I've ever worked on and means more to me then most people will ever know. It's called (working title) "La Fille de l'avenir" (The Daughter of the Future) and is the story of a 18th Century girl, about to be married and worried about the constrictions of marriage, thinking she'll lose her independent female self. She is given a magical key, that transports her to 2010 - But what she sees isn't exactly all she had dreamed of for the future. If that doesn't get you excited, Kelsey of I Do Declare will be the costume designer and the title song will be done by Candy Hearts! It's a collection of all the things that make me happy and I'm so proud to be making my dream film.
- I'll be holding my first meet up since April, when I did it for Alice in Wonderland's movie fun! This time I'm running another meet up for a Disney movie - Tangled, the fun re-telling of Rapunzel. I'm dying to dress up in a Disney inspired coordinate again - this time I'm deciding between Bambi or Chip'n'Dale. Which do you think I should do? Gimmie ideas!
- I'm really wanting to get more fall and winter colors into my wardrobe, including more browns and plaids! I've already accomplish more red plaid, but I'd love even more colors to chose from. I'm even debating on getting that Baby lucky pack dress with the ties on the side, just to feed this craving!
- Another goal is to make the best present for the Lolita Day Christmas Exchange at the Opera meet up! I've already collected a few items, but I still need to find something really special.
- Speaking of which, I really need to get my coordinate for that day together as well. My main piece, Lovely Sweet Room in Red arrived already. Now I must get a long sleeve white blouse, a cute pair of brown boots and a new red bag - possibly. I also want a new faux fur stole, along with tiny Christmas trinket hair pieces for my hair. Did I mention I really want to crimp my hair for this outfit?
- I'm also wanting to get everything Deers and Teddy Bears this year. I know they have been and are in season right now and I've fallen for their charm. Bring me the prettiest fawns and little squishy Bears oh fashion world! I shall get everything I see!
So what are your goals for the month? I wanna know as well ~
This year when it came to Halloween, I decided to be economical and not spend any money on anything new! By just making an outfit out of my own closest, so with the idea I chose to dress as one of my favorite characters of all time: Dorothy Gale! Though this outfit isn't perfect, I think I easily got the general elements of the outfit correct and with that made a pretty cute version of the Kansas darling!First thing I picked was the best of my blue jumperskirts to use. Though it isn't gingham, I chose my Love to be a Princess JSK from Angelic Pretty. It's probably my favorite dress in my closet and since I took off the extreme detachable bows, it works for a more cute and princess looking Dorothy. I decided this would be more an interpretation of when Dorothy gets made up in the Emerald City, hence why it'll look so glamorous! This is also why I chose to use my red Tarina Dorothy necklace, and my cute and lovely Red Tea Party replicas for her ruby slippers! I'm not using any special Straw basket, but this one works.My final touch I chose was my collection of Wizard of Oz dolls, that I'll put into the basket instead of Toto. I've had these since I was little and really want to put them to good use. My favorite is the Scarecrow, so he will be featured the most.Yeah, it isn't exactly Dorothy as intended, but it's my version and I love it. But now I wanna know, what are you wearing on the costumed holiday? Lolita? Nothing related to frills? Tell me!
