JUSTIFY MY LOVE

So I've had a huge crush on Givenchy for years; but with this collection, I offer my entire being whole-heartedly to Riccardo Tisci. The man is a genius. A sexy, sexy genius. Observe:

So Fucking Hard

NEWSFLASH

Black lipstick makes you look fat.

and

'Magic Happens' bumper stickers make you look fat.

and

Fishnet stockings make you look cheap AND fat.

OBSESSION: The GROWLERS

The Omelette... Stinks.

An old favourite.
From 'Naked' by Mike Leigh

I've been dreaming of a time when
The English are sick to death of Labour and Tories
And spit upon the name Oliver Cromwell
And denounce this royal line that still salute him,
And will salute him forever.


- "Irish Blood, English Heart"

Don't wanna kiss, don't wanna touch. Just smoke my cigarette and hush.

I'm super excited that Steven Klein is directing the new Lady Gaga Alejandro video. Even though I hate the song. I was completely irked by it from the very first moment I heard it. Way to make the Madonna ripping off completely obvious i.e the standard La Isla Bonita style song.
Anyway, it'll probably grow on me, as it kinda sounds like All That She Wants by Ace of Base [my secret shame]. And Steven Klein is a fucking amazing photographer.
If you're not familiar, you probably are, y'know the mega Italiano Madonna D&G campaign?

And his film stuff is possibly even better. These are my favourites... can't you just imagine the natural progrssion into Gaga by these 2 vids combined?

HERO SPOTLIGHT: Diane Arbus

I just stumbled upon an Arbus image: the iconic 'Boy With Toy Hand Grinade'. I haven't laid eyes on this in years:

It instantly brought back memories of all those afternoons I would spend laying on the carpet in my High School Library pawing over her book.
Come to think of it, I'm so surprised my school even had that book!
I think I became somewhat obsessed with her work, probably because there were few other photography books. Anyways, I haven't thought about these images in so long, my love affair has rekindled.
I'mma go buy me some prints.

ALL GROWN UP

I've been waiting to see what Tavi G will look like when she's all 'full size adult'. But apparently it's already happened! She looks stunning. That said, it's hard to NOT look super-cute in Miu Miu.

WANT.

THE ‘FREJA’ LACED ZIP BOOTS BY ALEXANDER WANG
via Jak & Jil 

Profit Off Our Blood

I can't believe this song was released 10 years ago. It still feels just as relevant, and probably always will.

look at where the profits are
that's how you'll find the source
of the big lie that you and i
both know so well.
in the time it takes this cultural
death wish to run its course,
they're gonna make a pretty penny
and then they're all going to hell.
he said the chickens all come home to roost
yeah, malcom forecasted this flood.
are we really gonna sleep through another century
while the rich profit off our blood?
true, it may take some doing

to see this undoing through,

but in my humble opinion
here's what i suggest we do:

open fire on hollywood
open fire on MTV
open fire on NBC
and CBS and ABC
open fire on the NRA
and all the lies they told us
along the way
open fire on each weapons manufacturer
while he's giving head
to some republician senator

and if i hear one more time
about fool's rights
to his tools of rage,
I'm gonna take all my friends
and I'm gonna move to Canada
and we're gonna die of old age.

It Could All Be So Simple

The Last Of The Famous International Playboys

This song has been in my head for days. So much so that I was beginning to think it was some kind of sign.
I've since come to realise: this song always gets in my head when I go overseas. Regardless, it got me really thinking about the verse lyrics. I've always sung along to them and not really paid much attention:
[note: the amazing Eastenders tshirt in the video...]

Dear hero imprisoned,

With all the new crimes that you are perfecting

Oh, I can't help quoting you

Because everything that you said rings true

And now in my cell

(Well, I followed you)

And here's a list of who I slew

Reggie Kray - do you know my name ?

Oh, don't say you don't

Please say you do, (oh) I am :

The last of the famous

International playboys..

And in my cell

(Well, I loved you)

And every man with a job to do

Ronnie Kray - do you know my face ?

Oh, don't say you don't

Please say you do, (oh) I am :

The last of the famous

International playboys..

In our lifetime those who kill

The newsworld hands them stardom

And these are the ways

On which I was raised

These are the ways

On which I was raised

I never wanted to kill

I AM NOT NATURALLY EVIL

Such things I do

Just to make myself

More attractive to you

HAVE I FAILED ?

Oh... 

Oh, the last of the famous

International playboys

The song is supposedly written to Reggie and Ronnie Kray [above], twin brothers/ nightclub owners/ gangsters who ended up serving life sentences for various murders but not before they wined and dined with the celebs of the time including Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra AND being photographed by David Bailey.
At first glance, the song is written from the point of view of a fanatical, copycat killer, trying to impress the brothers, and indeed, the general public. And how could they help it?
" In our lifetime those who kill
The newsworld hands them stardom
And these are the ways
On which I was raised"
The whole song could simply be a comment on this: the media turning killers into stars.
The funny thing is, though, this song was released in 1989, 6 years before Ronnie's funeral which saw hundreds of people lining the streets as though a pop-star had died. 
But the more I look at it, the more I'm beginning to think Morrissey wrote this from the point of view of the brothers themselves, as a dedication to each other. A love song, if you will.
Who knows?
All I know is: it won't get outta my head!

IF I SEE ONE MORE PERSON DRESSED LIKE THIS, I SWEAR I WILL PUNCH THEM IN THE FACE.

This is apprently from Zara's NEW collection. Sweet Jesus, how the mighty have fallen.

Vogue Italia March 2010

Forgotten Splendour