My Illustrative Life

Being narrative and visuals-driven, I plot my clothing by fictional archetype. For work I’ve mentioned “60s professional lady” but for winter, and probably forever, it is Fairytale Murderess. It’s a little bit folksy and a little bit princessy, but grumpy and dark-toned and maybe slightly more practical.

Of course, today is also the 350 wardrobe challenge, and if there is one thing that a fairytale murderess wants to be, other than “not in jail”, it is warm. Don’t argue with me, I am in charge here.

So to stay temperate, over the normal underwear and under the outerwear goes this:

l-r: knitted shorts (Swimmer), slip (ebay), sweaterdress (NoaNoa)

Sweaterdresses make really good mid-layers when it’s on the freezing side of cold; layer them with each other or with more rigid dresses like this one. Or just underneath a jumper and a skirt, who’ll know?

I was extra prepared, today, as one must be sometimes - three hats, for the small fluctuations that breezes or electric lights can effect:

Fur vs no-fur, for the different moralities in one’s life:

And for when it got REALLY nippy, my Dad’s boarding school dressing gown. It’s fully wool, so it itches like a bassard if there aren’t enough layers below. THANKFULLY, in this case there were!

And for inner warmth, ginger wine. Non-alcoholic, because when something is delicious I like to be able to have as much of it as I like, but I do not like to fall down and be sick.

Overdress: Jane Marple

Stockings: Pretty Polly

Boots: Dr Martens

Gloves: gift, Accesorize

Fur: jumblesale leftovers

Wendy House: made by my Dad when I was knee high to a grasshopper.

One more for luck? Why not. I’ve had a king, some wolves, a witch, a plotter, some waifs and a shifter, why not have an off with her head?

I’ve mentioned a few times the thought processes that go into my “work wardrobe”; I want to feel like myself but appropriate. For me, this has meant diving from the [1960s professional lady] board. There’s a character archetype that the neat, softened-geometric shapes and clear colours that thick work-grade fabric evokes. When we (I) watch professionally-set stories set in the 60s, we (I) know that:

1. she’s smart
2. she’s good at her job
3. she can handle the people she encounters in the line of duty with grace and skill
4. she’s underestimated

It’s clear why these are aspirational traits, no? The last, in particular, is important, because I do not feel quite comfortable being an “office worker”. This is no slight to those who are - I simply am myself and not them!

Of course it’s no secret that Ms Joan Holloway is the bees knees right now, and it’s certainly true that she is costumed impeccably.

But who is responsible? Who chose the clothes that make the woman? I will tell you know, and you should read these names:

Tiger Curran: costume assistant / wardrobe intern (26 episodes, 2008-2009)

Allison Leach: assistant costume designer (18 episodes, 2007-2009)

Joanne Bradley: tailor (17 episodes, 2007-2008)

Tiffany White: costume production assistant / costumer / … (17 episodes, 2007-2008)

Michael Castellano: costumer (12 episodes, 2007-2008)

Bud Clark: costume supervisor (12 episodes, 2007)

Le Dawson: costume supervisor / costumer / … (9 episodes, 2007-2009)

Kristine N. Haag: costumer (9 episodes, 2008)

J.R. Hawbaker: costumer (7 episodes, 2008)

Kimberly Nickerson: costumer (6 episodes, 2007)

Lynn Ollie: costumer (6 episodes, 2007)

Hannah Jacobs: costume production assistant (5 episodes, 2008)

Thanks IMDB!

But Joan wasn’t the first! Of course she wasn’t. She’s a throwback, she’s created now. She may be a marvelous depiction of a lady of ‘63ish (I don’t actually know.. I can’t watch Mad Men, because I believe I would burst re: injustice, prejudice, social horror) but she’s a product of 2007.

So, who was really there?

I’ll tell you!

Wende Wagner played Lenore “Casey” Case in The Green Hornet, a show I happen to heart. Bruce Lee’s tv break, too. Am I looking forward to the movie? NO.

Casey was Brit Reid’s secretary. Brit Reid was the editor-owner of the Daily Sentinel, a newspaper. He was also by night the Green Hornet, a asked crimefighter who went about his vigilante business by pretending to be a worse criminal than anyone else. I love that. Casey was one of the three people who knew of Brit’s alternate identity, and she was often involved in his cases. There was no romance between them, and he respected her as a professional and a friend. Andrew Pallack is credited in IMDB as the men’s wardrobe master. I will check my dvds to see if there’s any info on the women’s costumier.

Eve Whitfield was costumed by Grady Hunt. She was an Officer on Ironside’s team, an integral member. She was kind of a hardass sometimes, actually. But look how she dressed! So good!

Photobucket wouldnt take the collage whole! I had to chop it, and I was in a bad, tired mood.. :/

The last, smallest wardrobe featured is that worn by Scott Bakula as Sam Beckett as Samantha “Sam” Stormer (yeah, it’s a maze of a show) in the episode “What Price Gloria?” of Quantum Leap. This was probably costumed by Jean-Pierre Dorleac, but Jacqueline Saint Anne also took charge of the wardrobe duties on “unknown episodes”. Produced in the eighties/early nineties, rather than the 60s proper, but OH that episode gives me the envies. Marvelous.

Thanks, costume designers and wardrobe departments. When you do your jobs, you make stories so much better.

Right now I am watching The Mummy Returns on the Hallmark channel. Which is serendipitous - I have been planning to write this post all week.

So: 2001’s The Mummy Returns, starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weiss. I really, really enjoy this movie! I didn’t see it in the cinema, but I’ve owned it long enough that my copy is on video. It’s just.. basically flawless*, as a movie to feel good whilst watching. It has:

• A married couple who are in love
• who have a child
• who isn’t annoying
• who is actually fun to watch! He’s spunky!
• The wardrobe is marvelous, all 1933s archaeologist-adventurer/stylish English lady wearing egyptian burnished-deco
• The supporting cast all have personalities and are not crippled by their quipping
• Emotions are engaged despite the action-movie set pieces, the cg monsters, etc
• Imhotep is one of my FAVOURITE VILLAINS EVER.

Let’s talk about Imhotep.

In this film - which is a sequel to the remake of the 1932 Karloff picture The Mummy - Imhotep is played by Arnold Vosloo, in place of Boris Karloff.

Part of the reason I like Arnold Vosloo is that I think he looks like G1 Megatron, and I both find that amusing and enjoy Megatron, so I start this situation with kindly feelings.

In this version of the history, Imhotep was (basically) advisor to the Pharaoh who fell in love, reciprocated love, with the Pharaoh’s woman. And from here-on in, SPOILERS. Be ye warned. Imhotep and Anc-su-namun are discovered together, and he is taken away to be executed whilst she kills herself, unwilling to stay the property of the Pharaoh. In the twenties Imhotep is raised - as per the curse he was buried under - and searches out Anck-su-namun, only to be foiled. In Returns he (guess what!) returns - raised by the reincarnation of Anck-su-namun, and they plan to gain the power of the Scorpion King and live it up like they never got to before.

Imhotep’s motivation is, basically, he misses his girlfriend and he’s cranky after being woken up from being murdered horribly (twice). I feel for him; I miss my [gentleman]friend and I too am cranky when I wake. Occult rivalries, too, bring out a worse side than my usual face. He has a minority of the movie’s kills. And his reaction to his final betrayal.. well, do you have a heart? You may find it squeezed for him, the poor mite.

Right??

As per last time: I owe this movie to Karloff’s movie. And he did make that movie; if you haven’t seen the Universal The Mummy it is available for free, legal download on archive.org. It wowed me, to be honest. I was so-so until the close-up on Karloff-Imhotep’s awakening. That, friends, is acting.

And I enjoyed, enormously, comparing the old Mummy with the new Mummys. These remakes.. in my opinion, they are respectful. The build on the story. There are a couple of references that really made me smile, but the story weaving is my favourite. Take 1932Mummy on one hand, and the 1999/2001Mummy(Returns) on the other. If you watch one hand, you will have a fine cinematic experience. If you watch the other, ditto. But if you watch both, you will have a better experience. They work together, they’re a dialogue. The way the nuances of the story and the characters change between the eras, the way the new ones are the old one re-worked rather than simply re-written. The Mummy vs The Mummy will give you some of this, but for the full joy Returns is a must. It is a rare breed of sequel. I think it is a fine tribute.

Once again, let us cheer! Thank you, Boris Karloff! Thank you very much!

Oh, and one more thing - Don’t bother with Tomb of the Dragon Emperor That movie can go.. fish.

*Bar the only-features-two-ladies (three if you count the “I am a gold-digger with my non-1933 cleavage” five-second cameo) catch, natch. :/

Until October, I had never watched a Karloff horror. I know, it’s sort of unbelievable. But nevertheless, I owed him a debt of culture, and not a small one. Through several different channels I had felt the influence of Karloff the Uncanny, and been enriched. I’m going to talk about the various ways I’d felt the hand of Frankenstein upon my shoulder in different posts, and today’s is going to be a short one because i need to go to bed soon.

If you click the play button on the cassette graphic above, you will hear one of four versions of Dig Up Her Bones by the Misfits.I didn’t check which versions when I was making the playlist, because I was in a rush, so there are three electric and one acoustic that comes after a bit of general meandering chat. There’s also an acoustic version on the playlist on the purple tape to the right in my banner-strip. I’d advise fiddling until you’ve heard at least one electric and one acoustic version.

My beloved introduced me to this band. He told me they were his favourite band, and the first time I visited him at Uni he played me a bunch of their songs so I sort of can’t entangle listening to their songs from being awake in the small hours with the person who makes my insides sing, which is score one for my enjoyment of Jerry Only and crew. But even apart from the context, their songs, in all line-ups but particularly Graves-onwards (internet I am my own woman, and I am allowed to have opinions about jewellery Danzig! ..thanks Jackie Burkhart), are kickass good. Just so good.

Dig Up Her Bones is one of the more romantic-sounding ones. It’s a heart-grasper, a sky-reacher, and you will want to sing along. It’s about, research told us, Bride of Frankenstein.

I’ve seen Dig Up Her Bones live twice, and both times it was so good. I don’t remember if it was performed well (live shows, sometimes they sound like crap. This is a fact.).. it was just The Band performing The Song, never mind how dissimilar 2006 Misfits were to 1997 Misfits.

It doesn’t allow me to stay disconnected; I hear it and I want to hear the whole story and someone to soothe the narrator from his pain.

Karloff’s performance in Frankenstein helped bring about Bride, and his performance in that helped bring about this song. Boris Karloff helped bring us Dig Up Her Bones.. so I think we should all say thanks.

Thank you, Boris! It is much appreciated. I have played this song a lot.

Click above to read other people’s Karloff entries, and learn more about the BKBlogathon.

Youtube is not the place to upload it, really, but until I find a good animation host (and start getting enough animation to share done).. this will have to do!

Today I’ve been in Coventry, at the Herbert and also at (possibly St Mary’s) a particularly fine Church. Both are worth a visit; the Herbert has an animation exhibit on - mostly Wallace and Gromit, but also some (independent?) feature length productions, shorts and series that I’d never heard of. There’s also “More than just Two Tones”, about the Coventry music scene (particularly 2 Tone stuff, but pretty encompassing). There are some great stage outfits on show. Jigsaw, King and Pinkerson’s Assorted Colours are all worth a look. I don’t know about a listen; I haven’t tried them yet! Maybe I’ll let you know once I have.

Skirt:
Mychu @ etsy(excellent customer service, by the way)

Jumper: ebay; 70s Slazenger

Socks: Jane Marple

Boots: Dr Martens

Hat: Anthony Peto

Having written in brief about Scary Go Round yesterday, I pondered last night how long I’d been reading it. I thought, wasn’t I introduced to it by someone I knew in school? I’m sure I was. But I haven’t talked to them regularly in.. ages.. hi if you’re listening! :] ..but I can’t have been reading for THAT long, can I?

Apparently I can, though, because I just looked up John Allison on wikipedia, and SGR has been running since 2002.

Don’t you think that’s amazing? Seven years?

I looked up Bobbins, the preceding story, as well and I’m remembering that I read that, too! So really, the fiction and imaged of Mr Allison have been in and out of my brain for seven or eight years, and that’s pretty.. I dono, interesting somehow.

But like I said yesterday, the illustration - as well as the scripting and plotting - grew and grew, skillwise, throughout. It’s not getting any weaker in Bad Machinery, the three-years-later SGR sequel (new characters, but not ALL new characters, and same town-setting). I want to show you some examples, and a little bit of discussion, about just why this art is so good.

Apart from the general good draughtsmanship, this stuff has heart and quirk. There’s a sort of joyful wickedness that seeps into a lot of the expressions, and the levels of detail of body language is quite marvelous. Even if you have problems with the type, or if you have other reservations, I don’t expect anyone to feel able to deny that these people have character. And that’s the thing - I think that John Allison is sort of a phenomenal character designer.

Most of not all his women have that suited-for-empire-waists shape, the nipped-most point of the body being just below the breast, and most of them are thin. He draws faces with the same conventions and there’s not too much of what you might call variety of nose. But.. he draws people. People who know what they look like, who project themselves with their outsides, who look how they live, who have opinions and tastes. Esther is a goth, but she is a person who is a goth. She’s not a person made of gothiness. They’re all (the main cast) kind of hipstery, kind of perky, but they all give the sense that they exist. They really do.

John Allison puts his characters in clothes that people who have real world lives might actually wear, and I cannot stress enough how grateful that makes me! It proves it’s possible, it enhances my enjoyment of the comic so much. LISTEN, Comic book artists and illustrators in general! Just be aware of people’s relationships with their clothes and garments in general, because they are a part of the story.

Observe.

Tell me that Milford is not a skilled representation of a real type of schoolboy. Go on. I dare you.. to LIE to me!

Look at the level of detail! That face! The armpit hair!

Eustace’s design is a bloody triumph. That hair. He is such a real sixth-form slightly posh boy.

Scary Go Round’s world is not a world where horror movie stuff doesn’t happen. This is another reason why I hold it in esteem.

From the last page of the last strip of Scary Go Round:

Check it out, huh? And thanks, John Allison, for telling these stories and making these pictures. Your work is fine work.

Amy of Confessions of a Fashion Editor gave me the Honest Scrap blog award the other day, and I filled out the first half of the winner-instructions right here. And having taken a day or two, I have pondered it, and: here are the seven blogs (or blog-ish sites) I’ve rated consistently highest since I’ve been a blog reader (about a year?):

nogoodforme with particular mention of Laura Jane Faulds

who is in her own words scrappy and writes posts that make me somehow think that I am really awesome, because of the ways she celebrates herself. It’s a bit like the mood I get from reading Tank Girl. Contact highs in the go-me vein.

visit

vintage vixen

Just on her one year bloggaversary, I came across Solanah early into my foray into blog reading but not right at the start; she was the first fashion blogger to make me think “darn, I’d wear all of that, her taste is fly”. And she’s so cheery!

visit

Susie @ StyleBubble

She’s informative, she has opinions, she’s engaging and she uses words and phrases I remember from reading Girl Talk and Smash Hits Magazine when I was small. Natch, obv, boyf. Has she said “birrova” yet? That one confounded me for ages. (example: “He’s a birrova hunk”)

visit

Linkara

His reviews are funny, they aren’t lazy or based around cheap shots, they have an interesting over-plot, he’s not gratuitous, he identifies as a feminist, he makes stroppy faces that remind my beloved and I of the kid in the car advert that some channel put on before and after family movie advert breaks (we called her Queen Baby; she was marvelous at the “how dar u I AM CROSS NOW HUFFFF” face). And his theme song is really catchy. It’s so good to see a fella getting impassioned about Wonder Woman, and not for nefarious reasons.

visit

the glamorous grad student

Her posts are thoughtful, and she’s nice. I can’t pinpoint what makes this blog stand out to me - it just does.

visit

Spoony

Sometimes I think “dude, shut up about your balls” or similar, but his reviews are proper entertaining and I like the fact that he gets mad about horror movie nuances. The range of stuff he gives airtime to is impressive and his hair seems to grow maybe even faster than mine. Maybe.

visit

Fatshionista!

I learn things here. Lots!

visit

I do give mad props to Amy again, though returning a reward right away seems a little redundant, and thanks to all youse guys above for filling my lazy minutes. Much obliged!