Travelling

Well, sitting here in the store, looking out and watching the wind sweep over Hamar. I am not looking forward to going outside. But, what is a girl to do.
Had a lot of visitors at work today. Sindre and Katrine stopped by, and Siri was here. It is always nice to have friends over, because I just sit here. Watching the wind. Freezing when I think about going outside. Well, that's a typical Norwegian summer. Windy and rainy.

It's a good thing I'm going to Dublin and Florence this summer. Uhm, okay, Dublin isn't actually known for their warm weather, but at least I get to go outof the countrey. Florence on the other hand. I mean, going to Italy, in the middle of Tuscany in july. That's a challenge. Not only will there be lot's of people, but the temperature will be burning. At least I'll get a nice tan when I'm there. That's something. And, for heavens sake, it's Florence. Renaissance capital of the world!! That is my favourite art era. I know I will find a lot of Leonardo, Botticelli and Michelangelo there. The Uffizi is packed with paintings and sculptures from these artist, and I literally can't wait. I'm extatic that my family actually agreed going there with me, because I always am the one wanting to see EVERYTHING when we're on these trips.

Going to Dublin is also very exciting, although I've been there before. But I know I'll get to see something else when I'm there, because I'm travelling with two friends. The Guinnes House is a must, as well as the Jameson Destillery. But we are also planning on living the city for a day, travelling out to the ocean, seeing some castles and such. I think that will be very nice, getting away from the noisy city life.

Travelling is something I really enjoy, and I love seeing new places. But of course, a city like Florence for example isn't a city you can explore in four days. That's why I'll probably go back there sometime. Maybe even have a full Tuscany vacation on a vinyard. That would have been awesome. I mean, I love Italian wine and mountainsides and old renaissance citys and architecture.

Maybe I'll move to Tuscany someday. Haha. Learn Italian and grow winegrapes and make my own wine. Then I think I am on the wrong educational path. Oh well, what a shame!

Costumes

Movie Costumes

Costumes! One of the most important, for lack of a better word, props, in a movie. Specially for me. I think it helps to set the mood of a film. Without the right costume, the movie will be average. For example, there is one special piece of costume that isrritates me. If you've read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and you're interested in details, you will notice that Hermionys Yule ball dress is forget-me-not blue. Well, in the film it is pink, HOT pink! Of course, if you don't care about details which doesn't have anything to do with the plot, you havent't noticed. Well, I did, and I am annoyd. I mean, how hard is it to make a forget-me-not blue dress? Probably as hard as it was making the pink one.

Well, this was me blowing of some steam, now back to the point. By the way, all the costume designers for the Harry Potter films has been great. I'm just a really big fan of the books, as well as details regarding the books.

Costumes are important, and costume designers like Ngila Dickson and Trisha Biggar really make the task of making them, look easy.
Dickson, who can take the credit for costumes in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, did an amazing job on all the costumes. When I saw all of Arwens gowns in the first movie, I thougt that everyone can make a dress like that. But when I saw the making-of, I changed my mind. I mean, how many details do you need to use in making a dress. Of course, they wouldn't be the same without the detailwork, because then they would just, almost, plain gowns. But it's not just the gowns.

I feel that, everytime I see a movie, I'm always looking at the womens costumes. But in The Lord of the Rings I'm also drawn to the mens costumes. And that is not linked to the man wearing the costume, usually. Let's take Aragorns outfit for example. Of course that costume could not be the same without Viggo Mortensen, but anyhow, it is a great costume. All the layers of torn fabric, really showing that Aragorn is a man of the woods. It really comes through in the costume that he always is on the move. I also learnt from the making-of on the DVD that Viggo actually almost lived in his costume. He was Aragorn off-screen as well as on-screen, which I think, really made the costume what it was.
I am a huge fan of Ngila Dickson, and this was a bit about what I like about her. Before I start talking about movie costumes in general, I would like to write about another favourite of mine.

Trisha Biggar is the costume designer for Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. In these films we see a costume story like no other. In the first movie the costumes, especially for Queen Amidala are really over the top and extravagant. As the trilogy evolves the costumes get simpler and simpler. This is because of the story of the film. Because the environment the characters are living in is getting tougher, the clothes get simpler.
In the first movie, Qeen Amidala, played by Natalie Portman, wears really over-the-top clothing. Like the red dress with the lights in the skirt. In real life this gown would be too much, but in the film it works. It really shows that Qeen Amidala is rich and powerful. That dress is really something, but my favourite is the "Senate" dress. This dress really shows Biggars inspiration. Or what I think was her inspiration. The make-up and the fabrics reminds me of the Geisha. With just a part of her lip painted with red, and the white face.

In the second movie the Queen becomes the Senator, and the clothing gets much simpler. We can still see the richness of the fabrics and the sense of welth that the clothing portraits, but they are not extravagant like the ones from film I. There is an elegance over the clothes in film II, that I personally think the dresses from the first film lacked. The best example is the gray dress Padmè wears when she's packing for her and Anakins trip to Naboo. The most extravagant on this dress is the ornament in the front. Besides that detail, the dress is very simple, as well as it shows her power. Of course some of the clothing in this movie is extravagant as well, like the two Senate dresses. These are detailed, but structured over-the-top dresses. Both accompanied by a hairstyle that balances out the look perfectly. But, my favourite from this movie is the Corset Gown. The black, very tight leather corset over the shimmery fabric, with the long necklace down her front is a very sexy look. I love this gown, and I think it's so simple and beautiful. It's a headturning dress, but it fits in perfectly in the scene she wears it. It is the scene were Anakin and Padmè discusses their lovelife, and what better way to turn him down than to show him what he wants.

In the third movie theres a sense of secrecey about Padmès clothing, because in the end of the second film she and Anakin gets married. Witch is a huge tabu in the jedi world. A jedi does not fall in love, and least of all with a senator. And of course, when you get married theres the honeymoon, and well, Padmè gets pregnant. All of the costumes she wears in this film reflects just that. The gowns are made in a way that covers up hur bump, and lets her fool everyone. Of course during the film people find out about her and Ani, and the dresses after the reveal really shows off her pregnancy. A good example to show before the reveal is the long velvet cloak in the very beginning of the movie. It is made in a dark blue velvet fabric which hides the bump on her stomach, as well as it gives her the look of a superior being. The richness in the fabric reflects the richness in the fabrics used in the earlier films. Padmès hair buns gave this look a feeling of nostalgia, because this look also reflects the look of princess Leia in the first trilogy of Star Wars. We all remember her famous hair buns and the white flowy and simple dress.
My favourite "after" look is the sleeveless short beige dress. This really shows og Padmès bump on the tummy, as well as it's so cute. The colour and the shape of this costume really reflects the lifestyle she lives in after she is revealed. The constant fear of her life, as well as her babys, and at the same time Anakin is getting angrier and angrier. This is the costume she wears when Obi-Wan is going to see Ani, and she secretly joins him. This costume really shows that life is getting tougher, and it gives us a sense of the costumes from the first trilogy.

In short, the costumes in the second Star Wars Trilogy goes from being extravagant and showing the wealth and power of the wearer, to the more simple clothing we see in the first trilogy.

This was a bit about two films whose costume designers fascinates me. But that does not meen costumes from other films isn't worth mentioning. The movie I first think of when I think costumes, are Sofia Coppolas "Marie Antoinette."In this film we really get to see the time period the plot of the film is from. Marie Antoinette obviousley is from the baroque and georgian era.

Marie Antoinette is without a doubt a costume drama. The heroine of the story sure was a drama queen, and a woman who liked to spend money. And this is reflected in her styling and clothes. The gowns she wears is very extravagant, and the time period is shown in it's best way. The power and wealth of Marie Antoinett is reflected through the choice of fabrics and accessories. And the colours show off the girlie side of the young Queen. In the beginning of the movie we see Marie Antoinette in her home in Vienna, and the clothes were much simpler before her marriage to the French prince. We can see the child she was when she wore the white gown lined with fur. This was the gown she wore when she arrived at the border. And the gown she was stripped of, as her journey into France required her to wear a French gown. The French one was of course richer in any way. The fabric was lighter and more expensive looking, in a light blue colour. As the movie evolves, the wealthy life of a princess/queen goes to Marie Antoinettes head. She starts gambling, and spending all the money on clothes and decorations. And as the spending goes on, the clothes get more and more over the top. She uses bolder colours, and richer fabrics. Feathers and lace becomes an everyday necessity for her, and this also shows on her gowns. especially on the hot pink dress she wears at dinner and for Mass. Here we see feathers on her hat and in the lining of her arms and bust. I must admit that the pink dress is one of my favourites from the movie. It has a simplicity about it that I love, even though it looks a bit over-the-top, it is one of the simpler dresses in this movie. And it actually is made in a fabric that isn't silk or satin. It looks like a light corduroy fabric, which makes the dress a bit more interesting to study.

The costumes in this movie is really a thing the designer Milena Canonero can be proud of. Because she really shows us the wealth of the wearer, as well as the time period.
And Kirsten Dunst gives the character her personality, and wears the clothes beautifully. I don't think this movie would be the same without Kirsten Dunst in the part as Marie Antoinette and Milena Canonero as the costume designer. Of course the film wouldn't be that good without Sofia Coppola as the producer.

In the end I would like to say, that even though I have only mentioned three movies, the costumes of other movies are spectacular as well. I could go on for several pages if I could, but I wanted to shorten it down to a length that people would bother to read.

The costumes of Pirates of the Caribbean, random vampire films, Jane Austen films, and many others are defenately worth mentioning. I will, most likely, publish another article about costumes one day. And maybe more. To end this particular article I would like to say that without the costume, the characeter is just a mere actor.

Waiting

I'm sitting here, waiting for my friend to pick me up. I'm going home for the weekend to my cousins confirmation. All my cousins are growing up, or is it me? Am I getting older? Well, I don't feel older, that's for sure. Hmm, this is what happens when I'm waiting. I start writing all my thoughts down so everybody can read how weird I am. I am only 22 years old, or young. But when I'm on imdb.com (Internet Movie Database) reading about actors and actresses in new films, I see a pattern. The average age of youth films is 18!! And the wirdest part is that I find some of the actors kind of attractive. When they are four years younger than me. Oh, well, every girl is a cougar isn't she?

Talking about films, I just resently saw James Cameron's Avatar. I must admit I was a bit sceptical about seeing it. I am a kind of person who doesn't want to know what other people say about a movie or music or something. Because the I get my hopes up, and only end up disappointed. And of course with a film like Avatar, gossip and opinion is inevitable. So, like I said, I was sceptical, but it turned out that most people were right. It was a very good movie, maybe a bit to much animation, but that was the idea right? Well, all I can say is that James Cameron did it again. He delivered when he made The Abyss, and of course when he made Titanic.

The last one is actually one of my all time favourite films. That doesn't meen that I only like romantic comedys. Of course at first I liked because of Leonardo DiCaprio, and the love story around his character and Kate Winslets character. But when I grew older, I learned about the history of Titanic, and that part is the most fascinating part now. When I see the film now, I get frustrated and angry at the snobs on the boat. I mean, not have enough lifeboats because it doesn't look pretty. That is the most idiotic thing I've heard, and all it did was kill thousands of people. Or at that time the middle-class people were not people, only rats. In the movie at least.

well, that's it for now, until next time.

Kenley Collins - An inspiration

Kenley Collins was a finalist in the 5th season of Project Runway. I really adore her, despite all the things that have been said about her after the show aired. Okay, it is pretty carzy to throw a cat, and I've heard that if the show hadn't been edited, it would be the Kenley Collins show. Well, I think that would have been fun. She was fun to watch. All her comments and replys where hilarious. She gave the show an edge, and that is kind of cool. I also felt like I started to know her more, for each episode. She really put herself out there, and I admire that.

But that was not why I desided to write about her. I desided to write about her because she is an awesome designer. I loved every single one of her creations on the show. I will admit that I had my doubts about the dress she made for the "L'Oreal Paris Make-up challenge". But it was very her. I feal like I got to know her throughout the show. Because she really stuck to her own thing, despite what the judges said. The episode I watched, which had me write this, was the "New York at Night challenge." Here she made a printed dress, with an asymmetrical tulle section on the right hip. I really love this dress. She really took two colours, which not many would pair together, and made a beautiful 80's inspired dress.

Her collection in the end was beautiful. Despite what Tim Gunn said, I really liked the ropes. I enjoyed her explanation of why she had them there. And I liked that she hand-painted the fabrics. She had dresses in her show, but dresses are a statement. The wedding dress she made was absolutely gorgeous, and the bridesmaid dress was just as pretty. But my favourite dress in this collection was the white one, with sleeves. It is a very clean dress, and the handpainting is really pretty. All these elements of simplicity and elegance is what makes Kenley Collins so awesome.

I am truly inspired by her, and I hope she will go far. I will definately use her as an inspiration, not just as a designer, but as a person as well. I really admire people who are brave enough to be themselves.

New to this

Hi, I'm 21 years old, and just started blogging. My name is Karianne, and I'm Norwegian. I found out that if I write in english, more people can visit my blog, and actually understand what I write about. At least the language. Sometimes I can babble about nothing, and people will sit and not understand a thing I'm saying. Sometimes I don't even know what I'm saying.
A bit about my life, so you'll get to know me: I'm about to start on my education, and to do that, I have to move away from my boyfriend and to the big city; Oslo. He's not far away, but it's still sad. We've lived together for over two years now. So it's gonna be a bit strange to live alone again. Well, enough about that. I'm moving to Oslo to study, and my major will be art and design at the college there. I'm not sure if I will work with fashion, making it or selling it. But I'll figure that out shortly. Well, a part from my education, I'm a very happy person. I'm almost always smiling, so when I'm mad about something, you'll know. I talk alot to, and my mum use to say that, when I'm silent, she knows somethings wrong. And most of the time she's right. I am very attached to my family and friends, and you will probably find that out soon enough through this blog.

Well, that was a bit about me. I will write some more about myself when I find something I forgot.
This is all new to me, and, that will definately show in some of my first posts. But I'll learn. In this blog I wanna tell you about everything and nothing! About traveling, about fashion, about my fabulous friends, about films I have seen, and films I haven't seen, about music I like and dislike, about good food and bad food. Everything. You will soon learn that my greatest passion is fashion and art. And I will of course write alot about this. If I've seen a new exhibition, or maybe tell you about the first time I went to an exhibition. I will with doubt in my mind link to all my favourite websites and blogs.