Style Icon: Christina Hendricks

I love: vintage clothing, sassy broads, redheads and curves. So naturally, for me, it doesn't get much better than Christina Hendricks. She has it all - striking beauty, an expressive face, a sweet smile, impeccable style and acting chops. She is the quintessential hollywood bombshell.

Right now I am watching season 4 of Mad Men and re-watching season 1 with my husband. So much Joan. Her character has developed a lot over the years but I've recently had the opportunity to reflect on just how impressive she was that first season. Most notably I am reminded of the initial excitement that came with seeing a curvy gal land a role like that. How meaningful it was. In a country where the average woman's dress size is 12-14 it blows my mind that an "average" sized woman appearing on television can make such huge waves. America may be ready for a chubby best friend but it's painfully obvious that some are still not ready for the curvy sex symbol. Despite being named the sexiest woman alive by Esquire the media and public are still hypercritical of every inch and every outfit.* Such a shame. I'll admit that Joan was a little shocking to me at first too, but only because I am not accustomed to seeing my ideal on television.

Off screen Christina's style ranges from retro to sleek and modern. She wears a lot of outfits that Joan might and many that she would certainly frown upon. Without the restrictive undergarments her shape doesn't change much; she looses a little definition in the waist but she is still a classic hourglass. She is proud of her body and knows how to dress her curves and I respect that immensely. In interviews she comes across as clever and likeable, sometimes even a little goofy. She's the sort of girl that I would love to have cocktails with. We'd talk about Joss Whedon, Tom Waits, 30's era carnivals and good food. I'd ask her how she really feels about her Barbi's unrealistic proportions. Hopefully she would be much more candid in private then she was on Ellen...

xo - jocelyn


* If you are pro Christina, pro curves, a feminist or all of the above and want to get riled up read this article.

Images 1: LA Times Magazine, 2: Marie Claire,3: GQ Magazine UK, 4: NY Post, 5: Huffinton Post,
6: liveforfilms.com, 7: Just Jared, 8: Examiner.com

Yoü And I: Mother Monster, Yüyi, Jo Calderone

Lady Gaga started as a guilty indulgence but she quickly turned in to something more. She's a gem. An odd beauty. A fierce fashionista. Truly talented. A total weirdo. Sometimes she can be too much - Too Gaga and frankly too Madonna. 
Still, I respect that even when she is too much at least she isn't too little.

I've found this new batch of singles disappointing. Contrived, even (but I suppose that is the nature of pop). I don't love 'Born This Way'. I feel neutral towards 'Edge of Glory' and so far I actively dislike 'Judas'. Maybe one night after a few drinks and some serious dancing it will play and I will make my peace with it but until then thumbs down. Ultimately, I had already sort of checked out until today...

'Yoü And I' pulled me back in. It is solid. Totally unlike the others. I love the country twang. Like 'Speechless', it's more classic rock ballad than club hit. It is a welcome reminder that she is an interesting and versatile artist. Like Madonna, Gaga is destined to spend her career trying on new looks and new sounds and though I won't always like what I hear, often I will. The video is strange and beautiful. I'll admit that I'm a sucker for an alter-ego but I am fascinated by Yüyi the Mermaid.

If I'm being real - the song is good and the video is inspired but it's Jo that I can't get enough of. I am smitten. He was shockingly handsome in his Vogue Hommes Japan debut last year (below) but in this video he is more masculine, more gritty and more authentic. Stupid hot.

 And that kiss? Wow.  

xo - jocelyn

Images: 1 Tweeted by Gaga 2,3,6: Popdust 4,5: Showstudio

Style Icon: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

If you aren't familiar with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu stop and watch this...

I am seriously addicted. I want to hang out in her crazy Lisa Frank room and eat toast and eyeballs with her.

Kyary is an 18 year old Harajuku model and fashion blogger turned popstar. Funny faces are her specialty. The video above is for her debut single. She has a book coming out next month entitled "Oh! My! God! Harajuku Girl". Her sense of style is killing me - eclectic and totally tounge in cheek. Love all the weird headdresses.

If you can stand mass amounts of kawaii you should visit her youtube channel to watch her and friends karaoking and freaking the eff out.

xo - jocelyn


Images: 1,7: Jpopmagazine 2,3,6: Kyary's Facebook Profile 4: Tokyo Hive 5: Time Out Tokyo

Two Generations of Style - Lisa Bonet & Zoe Kravitz

My experience is unique. I am mixed but I look white. My parents were hippies but I grew up in a conservative town. My family was always different, never looked like anyone else's family. My female fashion role models, both mother and grandmother, dressed fearlessly. I spent most of my childhood trying to fit in and my teen years struggling to find my own identity. My first experiment in style found me digging through my mother's closet, pairing my leggings with a bold 90s blazer for a middle school dance. I remember that closet well, packed full and incredibly eclectic. Vintage dresses hung next to 90s menswear, hippie skirts and slinky slips. It took me years to come around but in retrospect my mom was always the coolest. 

Enter Lisa Bonet, the ultimate 90s bohemian style icon. Growing up with "The Cosby Show" I had always looked up to artsy, free-spirited Denise. As cool as Denise was, Lisa Bonet was larger than life. Her style was crazy, inspired, carefree. She helped usher Generation X in to a new decade, we weren't kids anymore. By the time Lenny Kravitz sang "Are You Gonna Go My Way?" the 90s hippie style resurgence was in full swing and my friends and I were convinced that he was our generations Jimi. I remember seeing pictures of Lisa and Lenny with their baby girl and thinking that they had it made. A few years later things changed. Trends came and went, we traded Lenny Kravitz in for Kurt Cobain, Neo-Hippie in for Grunge and Lisa Bonet disappeared off of my radar. 

When I saw Zoe Kravitz on screen as Nia in "It's Kind of a Funny Story" I had no idea who she was. She was beautiful, her acting was on point and honestly I am always excited to see mixed chicks in movies or on TV, there is a curiosity and a kinship there. By the time the credits rolled I was surprised to find out who she was. Now I see her everywhere. She is the perfect combination of her parents. She has her fathers rock n' roll edge but she is every bit her mothers daughter. She is breathtaking and her style is fresh and flawless. Like her mother she could wear anything well but she makes brave choices anyway. Her look is eclectic and charming. She is young, vibrant and seriously hip. She took me back to the vault for this post, and for that I am thankful. I am so glad to see that Generation Y has it's own Lisa Bonet.

xo - jocelyn