girl/boy/girl

Ever notice a woman so striking she deserves the description, "handsome"? A masculine undertone can be brazenly feminine on a beautiful frame or a stunning face. Think Cate Blanchett as Katherine Hepburn in the Aviator. Think rocker, Chrissie Hynde.

But what happens when this aesthetic paradigm of androgyny is reversed? Is The Cure's Robert Smith in his smeared red lipstick as desirable as the tough Patti Smith in her equally messy hair and button-down shirts?










For some (probably Freudian or capitalist) reason, the masculine feminine seems to hold more 'beauty' cache than the efeminite male. Case in point, this photo of a statuesque woman... er, or is it, of a beautiful man?
According to The Sartorialist, this photo is of a man named Martin. But I thought it was of an eye-catching woman. Does the way the image strikes you change depending on the gender of the figure? If fashion is meant to be bold, interesting and conceptually daring, this boygirlboy punk poseur is either the epitome of fashion, or its cliché.

The good, the bad, and the... oh, be nice!

Okay okay, so I know everyone and their dogs will be covering what the dames of
Hollywood were wearing on the carpet rouge last night, but I can't help but offer my
two cents. I root for the films first, and their leading ladies second - but it's a close race.
(Sorry I'm leaving the menswear out of this, since all the male nominees seemed to be
wearing Armani made-to-measure!). There was a lot that I loved, and here it is:

The Good (Penelope Cruz in Versace, Reese Witherspoon in Olivier Theyskens.)

















(Below: Gwenyth Paltrow in Zac Posen, Kate Blanchett in Armani Privé.)

















The Bad, actually, the worst really:
You'd think that after starring in the fashionista flick, The Devil Wears Prada, there'd be serious pressure to look picture perfect, but Anne Hathaway's odd white Valentino number with a superimposed black tuxedo/gift bow front was, well, odd and unflattering.

Noir night

(Cate in Vogue shoot 2006)

The Oscars are approaching! I'm guessing that the stunning and statuesque actress,
Cate Blanchett, will be one of the most radiant on the red carpet.



















Whatever Ms.Blanchett graces the carpet with, it's bound to be of the glamorous
and unexpected variety. I would love to see her in an ethereal gown from Danish
eco-activist, Peter Ingwersen's line, Noir. (pictured below by model, Erin O'Connor)