What's your Major, Town Tramp?

Set in the year 1963, it's the story of a glamorous, not your middle-of-the-road mother; Mrs Flax with her two daughters, Charlotte and Kate.  Charlotte 15, who is very straight and narrow.  Obsessed with Catholicism and a half photo of her father's legs.  Holding to this one memory she has of him from when she was a little girl.  Kate 7, very cute and bubbly who wants to be world champion in swimming, constantly trying to hold her breath under water (in the bath) timing herself each time to try and beat her time.  Every time Mrs Flax has a "relationship" that turns to disaster they all up-sticks and take a roadtrip to another town.  This time they end up in the small town of Eastport, Massachusetts.  As you can imagine, Mrs Flax (Rachel) turns a lot of heads but it is not her who gets into trouble this time...

I wouldn't want to spoil it for you newbies to this so I shall leave the story right there.  But this has to be one of my all-time favourite go-to movies.  I must watch it once or twice every year and it really surprises me when I meet someone and they have no idea which movie I am talking about.  So this is why I wanted to post about it here on my little blog.  I want everyone to be able to enjoy it as much as I do.  And when you get to the end all you want to do is dance along in the kitchen with them!


Enjoy!
Alison xxx

I Want to Ask You Things

I don't much attend the cinema.  I mean I love films.  Absolutely.  But I just don't tend to go to the big screen often.  That is until I get completely drawn in by some visual or poster or soundtrack or other which just makes me want to sit in the dark and absorb every little detail playing out in front of me.  Carol was one of these such movies.

It was mesmerising.  Beautiful.  Absolutely stunning.  It was a feeling beyond words.  I was completely drawn in from the very first flicker of the screen to the very last credit playing against the soundtrack.  It emotionally absorbed me and pulled me in every which way.  I cried a lot.  Heavy crying.  Hot tears.  Not just because of the story which unfolded before my eyes but because it triggered feelings inside me so real.  My heart drowned in its depths.  Their silent knowing glances.

Cate Blanchett whom I just absolutely adore.  Perfectly casted opposite the quiet, shy Rooney Mara.  It was perfection.  One film that will stay with me forever.  Along with its wonderful soundtrack.

Of course I cannot leave without mentioning and crediting the wonderful work of triple Academy Award-winning costume designer Sandy Powell for the to-die-for wardrobe.  To have Carols wardrobe would be a dream...  1952.  The fifties style, early enough so that it still captures the essence of the forties.  J'adore.

Alison xxx

Roll VT - High Rockabilly 2012

Heyhey!

So this was just posted and I had to share it with you all!  Especially since I didn't get to go this year and then I find that they made a promotional video from last year.  It's great as it's like a souvenir to me as it was my first year at High Rockabilly!  I love spotting people I know or who I have met.  You may even find a glimpse of me along the way.

Maybe I will be back there next year but for now the plan is to hopefully go to my first Rockabilly Rave for my birthday next year.  Now that will be exciting!

Enjoy,

Alison xxx

Live by the Lake - Give Away

Hello everyone!

Hope you are all well.  I am rather excited about this post as it involves an amazing giveaway for you all.  Before I went on my vacation I was contacted by the people behind Live by the Lake who asked me whether I would like for my readers to win a pair of tickets to an outdoor showing of Singin' in the Rain?  Well of course I would!

Live by the Lake is a series of summer concerts set in sumptuous surroundings at Kenwood House.  The showing sounds pretty fabulous - the movie will be shown on an open-air big screen accompanied with the score performed live by The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra!  That's amazing in itself.  You will be able to bring along your own picnic to enjoy or you can even pre-order one from them ready for the evening.

Here are the details for entering...

• You have to be a follower of mine :)
• Unfortunately I have to make this give-away a UK only entrant as the showing is based in London.  If you do not live in London, please make sure you are able to make your own way to and from the venue for the showing on the day.
• You can enter by leaving me a comment below that you are entering.
• You can enter a 2nd time by posting about this competition and linking me on either your Twitter or Instagram with @dressingparlour 
• There will only be one winner chosen at random.
• The prize - 1 pair of tickets to the show on 30th Aug 2013. No alternatives will be given.
• Enter the competition by Monday 12th Aug 2013 23:59 GMT.
• The winner will be announced later on in that week.

If you want to find out more about the various shows or even to pick up some tickets, these are the links to follow -  Facebook: facebook.com/LiveByTheLake | Twitter: @LiveByTheLake | Website: Live by the Lake

Good luck and I will pick the winner after the competition closes.  I look forward to picking a happy winner out of the hat :D 

Take care,

Alison xxx

Bye Bye Birdie

Sunday previous I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening with my friend Kate at the NFT to catch the screening of Bye Bye Birdie as part of the 55th BFI London Film Festival.  I try and attend at least one showing as part of the festival each year and have never been disappointed.  The choices are wide and there is always without fail something that catches my eye.

Bye Bye Birdie was inspired by Elvis when he was famously drafted into the army; no doubt with girls screaming Noooooo the world over when the news was announced.  It's a musical based on the idolizing of the rock 'n' roll figure and the effects it has to ones young life.  Which hasn't changed too much years down the line really?

Made in 1963 and directed by George Sidney with a star cast of Janet Leigh as Rosie DeLeon, Dick Van Dyke as Albert F.Peterson, Ann-Margret as Kim McAfee, Maureen Stapleton as Mama Mae Peterson and Bobby Rydell as Hugo Peabody.  Kim and Hugo being the High School steadies whose lives are then complicated by one rock 'n' roll star Conrad Birdie and those around him.

The showing was to showcase the digital restoring of this wonderful film as part of their Treasures from the Archives collection.  The colours was vibrant, vivid and the sound glorious.  A job definitely worth doing and a job well done.  I would recommend the buying/renting of a dvd since this showing was a one-off.  Maybe there will be a re-release version with the restoration.  That would be an idea!  It was surprisingly funny and very fun to watch.  Lots of laughing out loud.

Telephone Hour - one of my favourite scenes from the film :)

Here's a few of the film stills worth sharing...

I loved this outfit of Kims.

It was in a bright bubblegum pink and it looked fab on the big screen.

Do you remember the episode in Mad Men where they used this as an inspiration for a Patio Cola advertisement?  I couldn't embed the video but have a look at this comparison of the Ann-Margret version against the remake in Mad Men - YouTube Link

Bye Bye Birdie opener and closing theme song

This is the Mad Men cast & crew version... Hehe

I leave you with this photograph of Ann-Margret.  Isn't she a sight to behold! xxx

Madness is not to be...

A follow up to a previous blog I wrote - Madness!  On the evening of the 22nd February the winners of the 13th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards were announced!

Here are the winners...

Excellence in Contemporary Film: Black Swan - Amy Westcott

Excellence in Period Film: The King's Speech - Jenny Beavan

Excellence in Fantasy Film: Alice in Wonderland - Colleen Atwood

Outstanding Made for Television Movie or Miniseries: Temple Grandin - Cindy Evans

Outstanding Contemporary Television Series: Glee - Lou Eyrich

Outstanding Period/Fantasy Television Series: Boardwalk Empire - John Dunn and Lisa Padovani

Excellence in Commercial Costume Design: Chanel-Bleu de Chanel - Aude Bronson-Howard

Unfortunately this does mean that the brilliant Mad Men and Janie Bryant lost out this year.  She has won two years running and who better to pass it onto then the also bbrriiillliant Boardwalk Empire!

I will continue to be glued to the screen for both of these and I'm sure sooo many of you are too :D

The Art of Swan

I had some lovely plans with my friends on the Sunday gone which involved a visit to la cinema and a dinner in the evening.  I do love The Curzon Cinemas for their choice of showings, events and Q&As.  We had decided on The Kings Speech as I had already seen the wonderful Black Swan.  I have to say I was not at all disappointed!  It was captured beautifully, the main actors were fantastic, it was witty which was unexpected and heart warming in the right places.  Although my posts subject may not be directed at The Kings Speech, I would highly recommend it!

Stepping back to the Saturday...  Upon purchasing our cinema tickets online I noticed a piece of artwork on the site displaying the cover of their current issue of the Curzon Magazine.  It was a cover dedicated to Black Swan and it had really caught my eye.  I made sure I would pick up a copy on my visit on Sunday.  I was even more curious to find out where this work of art had originated from.  It was work that I had not encountered in London used to promote Black Swan.

Back on the Curzon site I went.  It would seem the Curzon Soho are currently holding an exclusive exhibition with behind the scenes photography and art work inspired by Black Swan for the month of January.  Now this I must pop along to tomorrow before it finishes.  There was also a competition - Become the Black Swan.  Sadly you will have missed it if you are reading this as the winner is being announced today.  What fun it would have been!

Some more digging reveals... La Boca the design agency based in Portobello, London are behind this splendid artwork!  And to my delight the work that originally caught my eye is in fact one of a set of four designs.  All of which are as captivating as the next I hope you will agree.

They really speak to me and ignite the feeling and atmosphere I felt when I was watching the film.  The use of red, black and cream evokes the darkness of Nina becoming the black swan but also the delicate and fragile state of ones mind.  They have a very Art Deco feel which I enjoy so much.  I am hoping to pick up a postcard on my visit to the exhibition.  If all else fails, I have the option to purchase some non-postcard merchandise on the official site of Black Swan.  I do fancy the black tote if anyone is asking :p

Here is to hoping all film posters are as inspiring as this!
Alison x