Stylish with Substance

When Language comes into play(ed with) on the World Wide Web... is the functionality of code lost in translation?

Stupidity wins another battle in our society, unfortunately. I just found the word, "crêpes" in a ReCaptcha box. Yes, it displayed the character "ê". Sensing it wouldn't even accept the correct visual - and correct spelling - nevermind only accept it and not "crepes" completely instead - I hit refresh.

Are you fabbing kidding me???!

Educational Tip: This accent is called "Circumflex" in English translation; "Circonflexe" in French. It is also used in other languages. In this case, it is placed above an "E" (or more precisely for "crêpes", a lowercase "e"), although on PCs it is typed or "pasted" complete with the corresponding letter.

It seems one just can't win! Either be incorrect doubly and pass, or put in extra effort (most wouldn't) and be marked as a spammer??? I really don't expect ReCaptcha to think people would know/type the alt code or copy from their character maps (Windows). I don't want that type of security enforced. In fact, I depise most CAPTCHAs, because I usually cannot read them! ReCaptcha is better, for at least they use words that are often real (I did recently see what looked like a name though, ironically a name similar in spelling to a celebrity related to the article on the page, hmmm) and they have a decent refresh method (some others force a loss of comment).

*Update: I now realize this depends upon the scripting and not some lazy ethic. Sure, the site owners and ReCaptcha company may never want to force people to open up their Character Map or learn alt codes, and yet the code may force most to get this wrong - even those like I who would assume what they're asking, yet didn't refresh, like I.*

I also contacted the company, informing them of the "innapropriate word". I do have hope that this is a company eager to fix such a troubling issue. I will post a follow-up to this entry if they respond in an interesting manner. *No response at all yet.*

Footer-Note: Firefox's spell check informed me, "crêpes" is incorrect - granted, spell check is for a user's currently-selected primary language, alone.

Now with extra special lateness so I could capture the perfect movie photo using Windows!!!
I had to research until I found a setting to disable, or no video caps!
(Look at that Cinderella pic, so worth it. Or else shoot me now - what do you want? I'm a perfectionist. Rare in bloggers, and it's obvious why. Still please enjoy! *Jedi*)

No, I'm not the perfect demographic for Sex and the City. I have nary a female friend, I live in Florida in a town-like city---even though I dream of working in fashion---yes I don't even like NYC that much. I hate the cold, I'm a Red Sox fan, but most of all I actually love my bags too much to risk their snatching. Call me scaredy-girly-girl. But hey I have no film crew to protect me, or the money and power of Samantha and Miranda, after all. And heck--I couldn't even make anyone I know near where I live to see the film in theatres ... but I do love fabulous things, and I just couldn't wait to rent Sex and the City. In so moi style, a fashionably late (even for a rental) writer's review:

I did grab a hold of the flick early, but on that Monday morning, after being reminded Heroes would premier that night, I was all too excited with my hands on the flick. I threw it on, but could barely stand to last the label-gasms the opening gave me. For my own sanity, I turned it off for a time.

It is a long movie. But that's one big thing a girl wants from her sex, you know. Still this means make sure you don't have to sneak away from the screen when it's half over ... once the Big dramatic wedding day starts (a hint is that it's early on) you'll soon know you cannot tear yourself away until the cuddling after it's over. (I do suggest watching this emotional movie with your beloved or dearest friends - all of age of course - and tissues and some sore eye products. Suggested 1, Suggested 2)

It was for the fashionista, for the writer, for the Cinderella-dreamer ... it was so for me.

But was the end as satisfying as the best of sex? A girl shouldn't kiss (and cry) and tell.

But I'll gladly gossip about some of the juiciest and eye-candiest goodies!!!

To start, like any worth-while late-as-DVD review, the Bonus Features...

*Note: a change in info on what was released delayed this post, also.*

For most bonus features, it seems you need to buy the "Special Edition" (or Blu-Ray).

Disc 1: Audio Commentary By director Michael Patrick King
Disc 2: Additional Scenes; A Conversation With Sarah Jessica Parker And Michael Patrick King; The Fabulous Fashion Of Sex And The City; Fergie in the Studio: The Singer recording Labels Or Love For The Soundtrack

Read More.

Where to next? The clothes, or the undressed?

Since this is a female-oriented blog, maybe I should start with the style ... besides, it's saving the best for last. ;-) (Uh, the sex?)

We find Carrie 5 years after season 6 finale, a bit more grown up style-wise. She dons pearls, and many more Charlotte-worthy sophisticated dresses than quirky dressed-to-the-nineties. However my favorite go-to accessory was this very teenaged-inspired studded belt - but oh she combined it with the previous for maximum wow!

Charlotte was the most gloriously Jackie-esque _blank_ - oops I can't give away the next 2 words!!

And Miranda and Samantha were more of their old selves, although Samantha added a couple of new "accessories" along her journey. (No, she never lost her breasts from Cancer and replaced them with larger implants, these are totally different accessories.)

And last, and sadly a bit least...

The Sex (Scenes) (And Nudity):

Miranda's, and a few random actress's breasts, Steve's butt, and one male's near-full nudity: including butt and semi-sidal (but it's big). = Worthwhile if you enjoy the full movie. Download just the skin videos if not or you're a guy, maybe. ;-)

To sum up the Review, if you think this is a movie you'd like to own, then you're the kinda gal or person I'd suggest to buy and own it. It's a pretty great movie!

Affiliate Links:

Amazon.com SatC (Special Edition, R)

Non-Affiliate (yet) Links:

Netflix: SatC the Movie (R) || Blockbuster Online: SatC the Movie (R Widescreen) (coupon to BUY from Blockbuster)

*Update* 12/19/08: If this tip below doesn't work for you, check the newest tip below. Click here to jump.

I don't know if it was my mistake, or the folks at Mozilla thought the status bar wasn't necessary for Firefox 3.0 - but mine had disappeared. I'm a busy girl so I let this torture me for days of not being able to preview hyperlinks' URLs (which is a scary thing indeed, it's dangerous sometimes for real!).

But a bit of poking around led me to the simplest cure: If this happened to you --

Click View, then toggle click Status Bar. It should now be checked and remain. You may even now feel free to turn on/off as you please.

Mine's staying. Whew!!

*Update* I just found this post on Google when I encountered this again, but this time it's due to being mid-Firefox upgrade. What fixed it this time was closing and re-opening Firefox. The upgrade was complete and my status bar returned. I don't know why this happened. But I hope I can help some others!

Footer-Note: This little post is no sign of the quality of great posts that are to come soon. However, we will now run a series of occasional extremely short tips, under the tag: Tip Bytes. (See the tags below.)

... or also against conservatism. But any even near-feminist must see (love?) Tina Fey portray Sarah Palin, in those sexy librarian glasses (ok maybe men, too!).

And any near feminist is pro-choice, anyway, right?

If not for that, view it for a great parody of Hilary Clinton that is also leaning negative.

*I wanted to publish this video as soon as a quality one went on the Internet, but life popped up while waiting. Enjoy for the 2nd time, if not first!

These photos are rarer, so I couldn't get many details. Enjoy a lesser known and her bags!

[gallery]

Credit: Scott Wintrow for Coutorure

[caption id="attachment_1262" align="alignright" width="245" caption="Phoebe Philo in Fall 2005"][/caption]

Phoebe Philo is back, but not to bring smooshy leather idealism again to Chloé, but as the next creative director of fellow French fashion house, Céline.

LVMH Moët Hennessy confirmed to WWD exclusively on Sept. 4th. The magazine immediately published the news, but in short, almost byte form - so here you get a detailed reaction with enough information to match...

Despite creating arguably the world's favorite IT bag with the company, Philo left the design world completely 2 years ago to stay home with a new baby, who's now 3 with a younger sibling of 18 months*. The deal with Céline that appealed to the new mom is that she would be allowed to stay and work in her home town of London, and not the headquarters of both houses, Paris, France. (*Source) Why the success her Paddington and other beloved purses being responsible for Chloé's clout of today didn't cause Phoebe to merely take temporary maternity leave, with parent company, Richemont, offering this same compromise is beyond me. (Are they so evil as to obligate themselves to pinch pennies and ditch the finer skins of life that Philo inspired in the manufacturing?)

[caption id="attachment_1261" align="alignright" width="201" caption="OUT: Ivana Omazic"][/caption]

Some journalists claim this will be a boost needed for Céline, a company recently faltering, even with Ivana Omazic showing hints at purse innovations recently. One being a handbag with a large mirror on the outside for the veinest of fashionistas - its (lack of) level of stylishness contrasting that cool tongue-in-chic, however. I do hope to see Omazic work on her potential for whomever else she designs, but who?--the fashion business is short-tempered and impatient. Was she sacked, or did she leave Céline and her budding creations and ideas behind by her own choice? LVMH simply said in a statement that she's leaving after three years. (Real loyal parting words, eh?) It must be a tough break to make, for example Philo will nevermore have her Paddington.

[caption id="attachment_1276" align="aligncenter" width="230" caption="Céline's " Watch Me, Mirror" by Omazic"][/caption]

So how excited can we be for Phoebe's purses of the future at Céline? I'm a mix of skeptical and wildly excited. Firstly, Phoebe mentioned to The Herald Tribune she'll re-invent and evolve her fashion aesthetic (they printed no exact quote). It's not to say that a giant padlock isn't exactly an immature style preference, yet I hope to recognize what I do love from the designer in whatever the old self she keeps. And even that definitely leaves promise that coming Céline bags will sport the most divine leather - especially with their current sub-line named "cuir sulky" which is literally intended to be "slouchy leather". Sounds like Philo is the best choice for Céline, therefore I'm not surprised they fought for her.

Céline has two other handbag sub-lines that bring excitement to my daydreams of what my Paddy-designer might do. 1. a "Watch Me __" (move, work, play, dance, etc.) named range that gives opportunity for fun - however currently the styles are mostly dull. 2. "Tourbillon" which represents the "swirl" of their own pattern. Far from monogram, it is however a sturdy coated canvas for everyday (even chores like gardening) with a lower pricetag - swoon. Not much leather there, but I have had curiosity as to what Chloé would do with signature - and Philo is to me the quintessential Chloé designer.

(Now we just need to end this recession and bring back our economy so I can attain a piece [and more to follow] of this fashion history from a favorite designer for my collecting status. [I need more than a price decrease, I myself need a "raise".)

What about Ivana Omazic though? Perhaps she's even been inspired to create her own namesake brand - which is something one doesn't easily leave for others to takeover and break. And that reminds me of my true and long-held hope; that a Phoebe Philo collection, itself, will appear - although with no Phoebe-done Paddies, it's still second in my prayers to her to re-joining Chloé and putting her stamp on the Bay, the Heloise - and bring back 2006 leather. (Did you know that the soft Paddy leather "left" after Philo did the same year of 2006? Um-hum.) But I do think my third choice definitely is now Céline - hopefully, third dream come true's a charm.

Moving on is not always moving up, though, I want to note that when Stella McCartney left Chloé, making way for Phoebe to helm, she chose to produce *icky* "pleather" (ok ok "high quality" vegan imitation leather [yeah right]) purses for her own "dear" name. Uh - downgrade?

Surely that means Phoebe was an upgrade to Chloé, with her seemingly great affinity for  using (and not wasting) lovely skins, and I hope she'll remain the queen of quality hide, bringing that to Céline for now. Even if she can't make a single suggestion for new versions of my favorite bag, I'm not too saddened by that; the best re-invention of the Paddy yet will be featured in a coming post. (Plus I must feature an article comparing Omazic's designs with the Paddington styles, highlighting improvements this maestro could make, with some hopeful merging with the basics of the satchel.)

Maybe new brains' re-workings of IT bags is part of what keeps them fresh throughout the years, even? There's always hope where's there are more/new talented minds.

And that reminds me further of my frustrations with the biz's game of fashionable chairs - the designer of Chloé's Spring 2008 collection, Paulo Melim Andersson, made bags that brought more excitement to me than I'd felt since the classic Paddy (or perhaps the chocolate croc), yet he was axed (soon after the Fall '08 show, also around the time the Spring bags debut at stores).

What is up? Am I out of synch with the style times?--since I am afterall still in love, and always will be, with a bag many turned their noses from long ago. Despite its original status and being the cause of the entire IT bag phenomenon, most but the hugest Chloé fans atually now merely see it as the biggest *fad* bag - a time-sensitive style that's OUT with the trash. Le Sigh.

The entire angle of this article shows that I'm in love with a designer of the past. Yet every one of her fans is, as well - and recycling is a lot of what fashion is. The only reason this new designer for Céline is such a story is because of her particular work with that other brand years ago - and we all know most's fave of her work - I am not alone. My readers are with me, even if not for the Paddington, perhaps just the leather, maybe the Silverado, or even the Edith, or...........

It proves it certain, this historybooks designer retains her following, and is sure to to a great designer of the future, as well.

Welcome back, dear Phoebs - and I wonder - new/contemporary/young/hip baby bags to be born?

Collections to look forward to:

• There is conflicting information, or at least confusing wording, around the web as to when Philo's first collection for Céline will show, but to my understanding it will likely first be walked down the runway in October 2009 for Paris Fashion Week Spring 2010, after being completed in design and mockup next March. (When does she start?!) Phoebe is set to get to work this October!


• See the last of Ivana Omazic's design for Céline in the Thurs., 2nd of Oct. show during Paris Fashion Week.


• Chloé's Spring 2009 collection will debut on Oct. 4th, also in Paris.

Humorous Foot(ankle-bag)note: If you wanted to read about Phoebe Philo's clothing designs, take note; you're reading a handbag blog! ;-)

Further thanks to: Wikipedia.

There was great buzz about the very 1st virtual fashion week held in Second Life last February, but where is the 2nd Second Life Fashion Week in the uber-important fall showings?

[caption id="attachment_1147" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="A Fashion Runway in Second Life"][/caption]

It's not much publicized, but thanks to Second Life's equivalent to Vogue, Second Style, I have the schedule for at least a few shows (fashionably late, I must apologize):

• Sunday, 9/7 - The Art of Autumn Fashion Show, 1 p.m. Too late, sorry.


• Saturday, 9/13 - Styles for Seduction Fashion Show - 2 p.m. again, sorry.


• Sunday, 9/14 - Frida's Fine Fall Fashion Show - 12 p.m. VISIT LIVE!*


• Sunday, 9/14 - Mondira Fashion - 1 p.m. VISIT LIVE!


• Friday, 9/26-Sun. 28 - Impressione Weekend of Beauty - more info

*You must be registered as an avatar and have Second Life installed on your machine to visit the live links.

By the way, I'm working on creating a public calendar
for Lipped Media so both I and any of you may follow
and better remember fashion events!

That is all that seems to be scheduled. The lack of a "hoopla", especially compared to that of the last SLFW, is due to the 1st being sponsored by iVillage, a big company, which for some reason did not continue their involvement. It's sad that support for underground and mass-participation / social/equality is low after initial *shiny* novelty wears off. It's equality sad that a grassroots campaign didn't keep what could have been (and I pray still will be someday) a phenomenon from growing, let alone prevent from shrinking.

I only recently got into Second Life with dreams of selling my own virtual designs, before deciding to hold off temporarily to focus more time on (re-)building the blogs up, but after this I want to make it a point to merge the apparel and indie design with the virtual fashions of Second Life into this blog. It's all fashion and it's something I want to be a part of - even when it's hard to find time for a world that can really suck the first life out of a life's schedule. ;-)

Hopefully I can become actively involved enough to spread the celebration further next February and beyond!

 

I tried hard to spare you the technical details (you're welcome)*:

Our host tried to do their clients a favor by spring cleaning

database organization, and the resulting control panel was inevitably tidy, but they failed to foresee some customers' sites may have been forced down

until webmasters tweaked a config - like KMS unfortunately (but not my/our other currently active sites).

They stupidly did this on a Saturday afternoon EST - a non-working day when some customers may miss the e-mail to inspect our sites for any snafus. Le Sigh. We're up, we're good, and this particular issue is completely finished.

*If you're a techie and curious, just ask about the story. :-)

Casual, sporty, and ready for the beach or even summer school - enjoy!

[gallery]

credit for 1 - 5 & last to Scott Gries for: Coutorture
credit for 6 - 9 to Marcio Madeira for Style.com

These galleries are a courtesy to those of you who just want to check out the bags from the shows, whether you want to post about them on your blog or just peruse. I thank you for credting both bagdreamblog.com and the original sources. :-)

Like a good story, but unlike journalistic-style, you must read 'til the end for the "climax" of "drama".

Her very name-of-fame is literally defined as, "elegant and fashionable", but Posh (Spice), or Victoria Beckham, gathered more media buzz attending events^ with her new* pixie cut hairstyle than her own debut high fashion collection - both of which went public the same day; Sept. 8th^.

*I do wonder what the daze is about, since the pop star is easily remembered as always sportin' a similar coif in the 1990s with the Spice Girls. I'm also amazed at all the polls passing through the blogosphere questioning the style, for IMHO Vic is one of the few grown women who can pull off a lack of mane without looking boyish - maybe it's because she truly does always dress so posh.

Perhaps there should be more stories about the first showing of her very own signature collection:

Sample...

 

Read more...