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Posted by Dain, Sunday, July 31, 2005 6:11 PM (Eastern)
Images de Parfums: A compilation of perfume ads, mostly in French (I think you can switch the site to work in English). It's wonderful to peruse, a combination of commercialism and art, and all the different permutations of beautiful faces, sexually suggestive (and some not even suggestive) poses, and pictures of bottles that the invention of advertisers can imagine. Some of the advertisements are truly spectacular, some funny, and some... just odd. It's great fun. Above: the gorgeous Isabella Rosselini for Lancôme.
Serge Lutens: Slowly, but surely, I'm working my way across the rainbow of Serge Lutens fragrances. They are strange, but magnificent. I'm sniffing Tubéreuse Criminelle as we speak, and it is a strange thing--mentholated, the "strange rubbery heart of tuberose", and that scene from The Magic Mountain.
Guerlain Les Metéorites and MAC Angel Blush: Lately, I've worn a lot of the combination of a good moisturizer (Dr. Hausand a pressed powder, Chanel's Poudre Universelle. A great compact, silky powder, but for fatigued mornings, the magic of Guerlain, perhaps, might be even more apt. As for the Angel, I don't know... maybe it's the summer, when I wear less makeup, but it seems right just to glow and not to blush.
READING
The Gormenghast Saga, by Mervyn Peake: Mervyn Peake is classic fantasy, as classic as Tolkein, though not so well known. It is the perfect antidote for the good-evil polarity / the human character in context of the determinations of destiny / hopefulness / gentle, sportive, humanistic attitude of Harry Potter. Which is to say, Gormenghast is bleak, without any solid belief in human potential, so satirical and keen and queer, and utterly confused as to what makes a hero and what makes a villain. It's wonderful, truly. Peake is foremost an artist (if it weren't for Gormenghast, he'd be better known as an illustrator and minor poet), so his interest is in characterization and landscape, not plot (by the end of the first book, the titular hero, Titus Groan, is only two years old). They are the oddest fantasy books you'll ever read, but immense food for thought, even despite the Dickensian cumbersomeness. (I want to see the movie now.) Left: the cover of Gormenghast, the Overlook edition, which contains all three books and many critical essays.
Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Charles Martin: I have a longtime fondness for Ovid--him and Vergil and Lucretius and Catullus. They affirm my belief that Latin is the most elegant, the most refined, of languages (regardless of what the French believe). Martin's translation is masterly, by which I mean, perfectly suited for the modern reader, and in a colloquial manner well suited to Ovid's poetry. I like the choice of meter, too; a fluid, but sturdy blank verse.
HEARING
See below: Summer music. And add Hendrix's "Come On (Let the Good Times Roll)", a song which, I think, was written by God. It's from Electric Ladyland, and it is a lesson in virtuousity with the electric guitar. And it uses the word "doit". I wasn't aware that anyone used "doit" except Shakespeare. : ) Right: the cover of Electric Ladyland.
WATCHING
La Pianiste: The Piano Teacher, a French film about an intensely suppressed master of the piano, rapidly approaching spinsterhood. It's gorgeously shot, somehow at odds with with the disturbing elements of the film. And disturbing it certainly is, for the piano teacher harbors some intense sexual perversions, sucking an attractive young man into her games--but in the end, the greatest perversion is fatally universal, how we are jealous of our pride and the extent to which we try control ourselves and those around us, at the expense of every other natural feeling. It freaked me out, but it's a good movie.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: A classic Miyazaki about the courage of a brave princess from a peaceful and tranquil valley, in a post-apocalyptic period when human beings have polluted the earth to toxic levels. Even despite this chastening, the nations of the earth are proud and warlike, and Nausicaä's beloved valley is caught in the crossfire. And of course, it is up to her to save the day. From the master who brought you Spirited Away (which I only thought was ok) and Princess Mononoke (which I thought was glorious), it's beautiful enough to bring tears to your eyes. Left: a scene from Nausicaä.
EATING
vegetable soup: Lightly caramelize shallots and garlic in olive oil, then add water to boil, into which you add: coarsely chopped celery (leek works too, I've found), parsley, and a sprig of mint (or any strong herb, you may decide on basil or rosemary or tarragon instead). For a little vegetable sweetness, add carrots or canned corn. For a heartier soup, add some starch; potato works, though I prefer an interesting pasta (this should be added last, and cooked to before al dente, lest it become soggy, though that's inevitable). I really do prefer it without pasta, though. Salt and pepper to taste.
freshly baked bread: Hell, nothing beats it. It takes a while to get the timings of the risings, the vigorousness with which one kneads, and the amount of salt and yeast, correct, but once you do... it's like heaven.
Greek yogurt: Not everyone likes the strong yeast-y flavor, and some even find it repulsive, but I adore it. I find many flavored American yogurts disappointingly mild and oversweetened. I like my thick-as-paste Greek yogurt with a little honey for flavor and sweetness. And it's good for you.
creamed clover honey: It's, as the name applies, creamier than regular honey. It's smoother, less sweet (somehow it tastes that way), and with a less pronounced flavor. Delightful on piping hot fresh bread.
WEARING
Ready-to-Wear Fall/Winter 2005: Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche (the line that sets the trends this season), and Rochas (gorgeous fantasy wear). Neither of which I would really... wear, even if I could afford the prices. But they're amazing. Otherwise, Derek Lam and Lanvin are much more my cup of tea. Right: a look from YSL, black velvet lined with exquisite hand-made lace, over a sheath of citron-gold brocade.
Couture: Christian Lacroix for pure invention, Chanel for quirky but classic pieces, Armani Privé for simple, pure, aesthetics (though not in my interest).
And otherwise? I don't know, because there are no stock industry photos in permanent residence as with designer clothes, but Banana Republic is doing some damned interesting things with lace (including, of all things, a pencil skirt! A clear YSL influence) and that Bloomsbury collection is just gorgeous!
Images courtesy of www.amazon.com, perso.wanadoo.fr, and www.nausicaa.net.
Labels: books, culture notes, film, guerlain, mac cosmetics, music, serge lutens, ysl
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