Work in Progress: Let the Light Shine In

What a difference a paint job can do! The white walls were fine, but we were set on a warmer color to reflect the awesome sunlight our front and back windows provide. Little did we know there are about a million different "off-white" (or cream, or neutral, or natural) paint colors out there! Holding up the paint swatches to the wall for comparing and contrasting took four hands!







But now the space is brighter! And cozier! The true color is somewhere between the three photos. In the first pic, in the right corner, you can also see where we ripped out the drywall encasing the pipes and heater. Goodbye ugly drywall!!

Real progress will be noted better I think once the floor is re-done. Then you'll all be super impressed! ;)

Music for Lovers: Debbie Harry

Do you guys know about Debbie Harry’s first solo album, Koo Koo? If you didn't, that's ok, because from what I hear, the record didn't shake too many tailfeathers when it came out. Like ... everyone really hated it. It was a fervently anticipated collaboration between two mega-stars: Debbie Harry, then at the apex of Blondie fame, and Chic’s Nile Rodgers, who, despite the waning popularity of his band, was a storied and respected producer. Add to this mix, if you will, album art designed by visual mind-fucker H. R. Giger - the person responsible for any nightmare you've ever had about Alien - and you have a pretty batshit record on your hands. PS: It was 1981, and music was just like, “Whaaa?”



Seriously?

H. R. Giger directed Debbie in two videos: "Backfired" "Now I Know You Know." I couldn't decide which one to post - the videos are equally bizarre and the songs are equally ... um ... out of it? - so I am posting both! Yay!





Hmm, what fashion comments to make about these? I am sooo into the wig and printed bodysuit in "Now I Know You Know", but the cyborg headband and ballet-neck tank in "Backfired" are killer too! Above all, though, I loved the murky green-black palette that pervades throughout both videos - one that can also be seen in the diaphanous confection that Debbie sports in the video for "Heart of Glass."



You know we love neutrals here at Listopad, and this is inspiring me to further explore the greener, smokier end of the neutral spectrum - earth tones and what have you. Also, I'm pretty sure I want Debbie's haircut.

Inspiration: L'Amant

"L'Amant" is a highly stylized film, though the visuals are very simple. Colonialism seeps through the picture, and class and race relations are sweated out in the heat of Vietnam in the '20s. But seriously, only watch this film if you are comfortable with older man + teenager sex (full frontal) and prostitution.



Anyway, on to the clothes. The unnamed protagonist (Jane March) can't really afford clothes, so she marches around the entire film (a span of maybe a year) in two outfits. One pair of shoes! It's gorgeous, though, and totally works. First off, the shoes are a beautiful high heeled concoction of jewels and velvet (she refers to them as cabaret shoes):



The dress worn throughout is a stark '20s affair: neutral silk sheath, loose as it's too big--yet still managing to emphasize the girl's developing body. It's held together by a loose striped belt that always seems like it's about to slip off:



But the crowning achievement is the men's fedora, obviously too big for her head, with a silk ribbon wrapped around. Paired with her pigtails (held together by more ribbon), this look blows my mind!



indebted to this site for the pics!

Neut, Glorious Neut

Here at Listopad, there is a lot of discussion about all things neutral. We ask ourselves questions like: Which neutrals are the best neutrals? How many neutrals can I wear at once? Why are neutrals so amazing? Why is it that no matter what I do, I can't not wear neutrals?

Real world neutrals:


Jamison


Tsubo


Gap


Givenchy


Third Church of Christ, Scientist


The Slayton House


Lebanese Taverna

Site Unseen

(from the sweet vintage guide on nymag.com)

Trailing behind Kata's fab neutral post, I present you some male options. Khaki and plaid are not just for preppies anymore (also, can someone tell me what is the definition of "preppy" these days)? It's a great way to look cool and keep cool during these treacherous D.C. heat spells. In order to prevent looking like one skin tone without looking like you are trying to impress the college board, add a splash of yellow. I haven't seen one man this combo looks bad on. Visit Meeps for a great selection of fitted dude's vintage shirts and colorful ties!

Glorious

I have been trolling the web for weeks looking for a better picture of this outfit, but since it occurred pre-paparazzi-infested awards shows, I don't know if one is going to turn up. The best I could find was this YouTube video. So: here is Diane Keaton accepting an Oscar for Annie Hall in 1978. (Meryl Streep would win the following year for Kramer vs. Kramer. Why do I know this? I am currently writing a paper about Kramer and a post about Meryl-as-Joanna-Kramer's delightfully neutral, nerdy outfits has been brewing in my noggin for a while. Prepare yourself.) I am digressing -- dudes. Look at Diane's freaking outfit. Can you imagine the reactions if someone wore this to an awards show today?



(PS: Last-minute reminder! Ian Svenonius DJs at Bourbon tonight! The tunes will be bumptastic.)

Object Lust

D.C.! Fall is here! This means it is time to re-vamp the 'ole wardrobe with some fresh pieces. My goal for the next week is to travel, relax, eat, thrift, and visit covetable boutiques such as Creatures of Comfort in L.A. And drool. I dream of stores like this in D.C. one day. Stores like Circle Boutique on 14th st. have the right idea, though.

Marching along to the neutral theme, here are good ones by the gifted Rachel Comey with nods to corsets and origami. Available on-line at CoC.

Object Lust

Loefller Randall Matilde boots in shiny taupe and a slight wedge at Sassanova in Georgetown. For those who fear change, also available in black at Active Endeavours. If Extravagance was my middle name, these sleek and lovelies would be mine.

Question: are neutral tones like taupe the new ivory? Personally, I think the more skin-tastic the better, that is, for those non-ivory folk like myself.