Mischa Barton chooses skinny straight-legs to flatter her willowy figure and feminine hips.

I was browsing InStyle.com today, which is something I do regularly. I like to stay abreast of fashion trends, and sometimes I get ideas for ways to reinvent the clothes I already own. Today, the site was featuring jeans to flatter every body shape, as well as a celebrity that embodies that type. For instance, Eva Longoria was the petite example, while Queen Latifah was the plus size one. I was pretty excited by this story, especially since I have a hard time finding pants that fit. Generally, the ones that work in the waist don’t fit in the hips and thighs. So I was interested to see what they recommended for “curvy” girls.

Imagine my dismay when I discovered that Mischa Barton was the celebrity example of curvy. I could have tolerated Beyonce or Jennifer Lopez or Drew Barrymore. But Mischa freakin’ Barton!? That just pisses me off. This is why America is populated by people with eating disorders and low self esteem. In what possible way is this woman “curvy?” She could stab people with her hipbones.

These are not images of a curvy woman! Don’t buy into Hollywood’s insane standards! Arg.

I am one of those perpetually cold people. I’m always freezing, and I will wrap myself up in a blanket even if it’s 75 degrees. I’m just happer in layers. This is why I love the concept of sleeves with thumbholes. My hands stay warm, my sleeves stay in place (even when putting on coats), and they just look cool. Now if only I can actually find some clothes that have this fancy little detail.

So, this movie arrived at Netflix much more quickly than I expected. This was a strange film, but I did like it. The sets were striking and the people were beautiful, but my favorite part was the story. Not what happened, necessarily, but the fact that it was just about people’s lives. It didn’t have explosions, wizards, guns, or Russell Crow. While the storyline wasn’t particularly original (it was about a love triangle between a woman and two brothers) it was still interesting to watch it play out and see how these people would put their lives back together. If you can handle foreign films (or speak Spanish) I recommend it.

I just finished two very interesting books by British author Chris Wooding. Not only does he have fantastic writing skills, but he is only two years older than I am, and way more accomplished. On one hand, that kind of bums me out, but on the other, it gives me hope. People my age can be successful (and I’m talking success NOT of the Lindsay Lohan variety) and smart and talented…ooo, it’s almost too much to take in. Anyway, to the books.

The first was Poison, which falls into the fairy tale/fantasy stuff that I’ve been reading. It’s rather meta in a Hamletesque play-within-a-play sort of way, except this is obviously a book-within-a-book situation. In this tale we meet Poison, a sullen girl who lives with her family in a bleak and dangerous marsh. She is unhappy, but stuck with her life, until one morning the phaeries steal her baby sister away. Determined to rescue Azalea, Poison sets out to find the Phaerie Lord, and meets an interesting assortment of characters along the way: a bone eating witch, an evil fairy lord, a terrifying spider woman, a most unusual man, a scared young girl, and a very unnatural cat, among others. As she faces one trial after another, Poison comes to realize that the quest isn’t about Azalea at all; this is Poison’s story, and she holds the key to the whole adventure. A really cool read.

I followed it up with The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray, Wooding’s critically acclaimed gothic horror novel, which is being adapted into a film. Set in an alternate, 1900s-esque London, this is the story of a world gone wrong. Thaniel Fox is a young but accomplished wych-hunter, who seeks out and destroys the demons that haunt London’s streets. One night during his hunt, he discovers a beautiful, mad girl and feels compelled to bring her home. With the help of his friend Cathaline, Thaniel saves the Alaizabel from a fever, only to find that she is afflicted with something much, much worse. She brings out all of Thaniel’s protective feelings, and along with Cathaline and a motley assortment of London’s finest, he sets out to save Alaizabel and London from the grip of the Fraternity, a powerful, evil cult determined to unleash hell on earth. A little bit chilling, a lot gripping. I recommend it.

(ignore Orlando Bloom here)
I had been toying around with the idea of growing my hair out a little bit for Fall (which is also when I’m planning on returning to my redhead roots) when my stylist went on maternity leave. She won’t be able to see me again until September 29, so my layers will definitely be shaggy by then. Since this will provide me with the opporunity to get a whole new cut, I’ve been looking to celebrities for inspiration. So far, my favorite is Keira Knightley’s sleek-but-slightly-layered bob, though I think by the time I actually go in, my hair might be a little longer than hers.

I like the style in the far right photo.