Margaret Durow

xray

Up Side Down

Smoke Far

Skirt

Rocking Chair

Nude Back

Me Rock

Magic Tree

Look

Jo Smile

Jo Moon

Jo By Water

Home

Hold

Hair

Ghost

George Smoke

George Back

Float

Field

Car Smoke

Swirl

Sunrise

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Climb

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More photos can be seen here.

By. Margaret Durow

Effy's style from Skins

I am a huge fan of the TV series Skins (only the original version I'm afraid). Not only are the characters genuinely adorable, but the color scheme and mise-en-scene are also terrific. I am usually most impressed with the first montage like scenes of each episode; those scenes set the general tone and mood of the whole episode, usually for the main character too. The first and second seasons are my favorite like most people, but I was really attatched to the central characters from the second generation as well. The story line was a bit too dramatic, but I managed to finish because of Effy, Freddie, JJ, and Cook (Cook was my personal favorite. Jack O'conell is a brilliant actor!!). I've really been enjoying the third generation too, and despite the initial complains about their "looks", the characters and story line are turning out to be just as good as the first generation. But we'll have to see.

Anyways to go back to the second generation, Effy's mysterious dark charm was a huge strength for the show. Kaya Scodelario who plays Effy Stonem has beautiful eyes and this seductive nuance about her. She has a very grungy/punk style with a touch of feminity, which I want to discuss in this post. I've gathered most of Effy's outfits from season 3 and 4.

This is the first time we see Effy with her typical outfit: a dress that's supposed to be a top, fishnets, lots of necklaces and bracelets, and a pair of black engineer boots. The almost visible undewear shows the I-don't-give-a-shit attitude crucial to Effy's character. The excessive accessories she wears, according to the show's stylist Edward Gibbon, is like her personal armor, representing her self-protective inner guards.

The leather jacket is a staple for Effy. It's a bit oversized which gives a vintage feeling, and helps to complete a more grungy rather than chic look. She usually wears short dresses and ripped patterned tights to go along.

Short dresses with black boots.

This is of course not a look many people can pull off in their daily lives. She wore an oversized t-shirt with large arm holes with a black lace bra, and matched them with black fishnets and the classic Dr. Martens. Very fit for a rocker.

This is very classic 80's Madonna with the rosary necklace and lace dresses. The lace adds a feminine touch to Effy's look so that overall it isn't too hardcore or messy.

Effy wears some knitted items too, but they are all ripped. The look on the right is my personal favorite, with a black leather jacket, ripped knit sweater, and a flowy floral pattern dress underneath. This is a pretty risky mix, but Kaya would look great even in a potato sack, so Effy's grungy look remains intact.

A shirt of Sid and Nancy(perfect models for this look) matched with heavily ripped black jeans. Anything Effy wears must be cut and ripped.

As season 4 starts and the love rectangle is sorted out, Effy's style is more polished and clean. She doesn't wear as much accessories as before and although she still shows a lot of skin, her clothes are no longer ripped and damaged.

For this look, Effy wears a headband (which Kaya manages to pull of gorgeously), a short top, a necklace, leather leggings, and a pair of dark pink Dr. Martens. Her style is now more chic rather than punk/grunge.

This look is quite different from Effy's original style. The general feeling is more soft and neutral, with the knit tights and brown Dr. Martens (the chains in the middle picture are from Katy's costume). I love how the inner top sort of slouches down from her shoulders. The look is overall peaceful, which is ironic considering the drama of this particular episode.

By this part of the story Effy is supposedly gathered and in peace which is directly portrayed in her looks. No more black dresses, fishnets, and loads of accessories. It's very simple and down-to-earth. She matches a oversized check pattern shirt with light blue boyfriend jeans and brown Dr. Martens/converse high-top.

This jacket is probably my most favorite piece from season 4. It's a vintage 1920's boy tuxedo with numerous Russian revolution badges attatched to it. She matches it with a simple shirt and grey skinny jeans.

Effy's style cannot be completed without the heavy smokey eye make up, the I-don't-give-a-shit attitude, and that mysterious air, which Kaya portrays stunningly. Other characters have great style as well. Cassie from the first generation had a very quirky, feminine, classic vintage style which I loved.. I really liked Cook's style, influence by the Clash, and Freddie's skater/street look as well. Frankie is of course my favorite for the new season. More detailed information about their style can be found here.

The quailtiy of the show is frequently questioned and I have to agree that many aspects of teenage life is glamored up for entertainment. But, the show does a good job in portraying the timeless problems all teenagers can relate to. It is a show worth watching, especially if you're interested in various styles.

Into the Wild, 2007

Once in a while, we come across a movie so precious, so poignant, and so personal that we cherish the moments of watching it. Each scene deserves our fullest attention, and to skip some parts or to do something else at the same time would be to disrespect the film and to our attachment to it. Into the Wild, directed by Sean Penn and based on the true story of Christopher McCandless written by Jon Krakauer, is one of those films.

Into the Wild takes us on the journey and death of Christopher McCandless, a principled young man who threw away everything he had built in society to venture out on the great barren lands of Alaska. He escaped society and its fraudulence and hypocrisy, but his journey was more of a pursuit: to challenge himself, to live in the exhilarating extremities of life, and ultimately to “explore the inner country of his own soul”.

It is clear that the film was made with much faith and affection. Penn does not portray McCandless as a cliché idealistic buffoon who ignorantly dived into nature expecting to see only the beauty from the glorified scenes depicted in Call of the Wild. Instead, we come to see him as an adventurer in search of genuine happiness, which he believed came from a higher state outside of society, in the real earth, in nature. Emile Hirsch, with his soulful eyes and playful expressions, captures perfectly McCandless’ multifaceted personality—his intelligence, audacity, charm, arrogance—with the tinge of anger he holds against the world. Hirsch’s talent shines the most when McCandless is met with those random moments that suddenly rush up and overwhelm us with emotion. The wonder in his face and drops of tears from his eyes convince us that what we are seeing is indeed genuine.
The cinematography, the music, the narration go with the scenes breathtakingly. In the movie nature shines in its glory with scenes only of the earth, the sun, and the water, conveying its omnipotence and purity—its seeming ability to trivialize all of our grand human problems. The music is simple but majestic, and the narration is poetic and full of emotion. Sometimes, all these elements create an overly romantic feeling, but it is insignificant to people who are already absorbed in McCandless’ great Alaskan Odyssey.

The film speaks to anybody who has ever wished to transcend the life given to them, to quit everything and pursue a path of adventure and solitude, and to figure out the truth of life and the world. That is why people with different values might see the film as a silly homage to a suicidal fool. But to the rest, McCandless’ tale is full of passion and meaning as well as frighteningly thought-provoking. The film is a wonderfully made tribute to that tale, and it pays the respect all who sympathizes with McCandless would hope to pay.

A great interview by Charlie Rose with Sean Penn and Eddie Vedder discussing the film.

Dream West

Photos by Ali Mitton

These photos pretty much sum up the dream I had this morning. It contained the exact scenery of these photographs.. How strange that I encountered these today. All this series is missing is a giant elephant with human like facial expressions peacefully sauntering away from me....