Entertainment Archives - Page 2 of 11

Emmys 2012: Canary Yellow Dresses

September 24, 2012 By Paola 7 Comments

So you’re an uber stylish mega lady celebrity attending one of the big celebrity bashes of the year and you decide to wear a colour which is rarely seen on the red carpet but which will really make you stand out in the crowd.

Unfortunately for you, you have forgotten that mirrormirror is clearly the uber stylish mega lady celebrity’s fashion blog of choice (which is astonishing since we rarely discuss fashion) and that back in September 2011 we were discussing Caitlin Moran’s maxim that ‘yellow goes surprisingly well with everything’.

So if you thought you were going to stand out in the crowd wearing your canary yellow dress, you clearly had another think coming.

Can you imagine how pissed off these women were yesterday evening?

UPDATE: Oops. Just found another one.

Fifty Shades of Decor

September 20, 2012 By Paola 4 Comments

Come and visit Christian Grey’s penthouse at the Escala in Seattle.

I have yet another terrible confession to make. I have been reading over-hyped spankbuster Fifty Shades of Grey.

And yes it is excruciatingly badly written, the sex scenes are repetitive and surprisingly dull, the hero is a borderline psychopath and the heroine is gobsmackingly, or rather, bottomsmackingly irritating. But yes I read it through to the bitter end (and, oh the shame, the two sequels) and yes, I will go and see the movie if they cast Ryan Gosling. I really hate myself though.

As an aside, by far the best thing about it are these hysterical reviews on Goodreads featuring the most inspired use of cheesy animated gifs ever. It’s worth reading the books for these alone.

One extremely amusing aspect of the books, for me at least, is that British author E L James set them in Seattle, evidently without having set foot on the American continent, let alone in the Pacific Northwest, and having seemingly done most of her research from a map (held upside down) and real estate websites.

I can see the fabulous Escala condo building, where Christian has his wicked way with lip chewing, ever flushing, Ana from my bedroom window, and for the delectation and delight of the mere handful of my erudite readers who will have read such garbage, I have found some photos of Christian’s penthouse online.

And it is amazing. Enjoy.

{All photos by Choi Yee Wong from I.C.E Digital Studio}

Inexplicably there are no photos of the ‘red room of pain’ though.

WTF Friday: Tom Cruise for W Magazine

May 18, 2012 By Paola 18 Comments

I have no words.

Discuss.

Mad Men: More On Don Draper’s New Apartment

April 10, 2012 By Paola 5 Comments

It went a little crazy round these parts when I wrote my recent analysis of Don Draper’s new apartment, so for the 47% of you who watch Mad Men (and for the remaining 53%, why the heck don’t you?), here are some more great articles I’ve found online about his new digs.

Firstly the LA Times did a great interview with set designer Claudette Didul about how she put the look together, and including a list of shopping resources.

Secondly, the LA Times also did a piece on the reaction to Don’s new pad online and included a link to THIS.VERY. BLOG. And they called me ‘astute’. What a remarkably sensible and insightful paper the LA Times is!

The divine Tula, shopping guru extraordinaire, wrote two great pieces. One on how to recreate Don’s apartment in your own home and another on how you can channel your inner Megan.

And the ever fabulous Tom and Lorenzo are again doing their weekly episode by episode Mad Style round-ups, which focus mainly on the fashions, but also on the interiors and sets. I swear only people who are more insightful and knowledgeable about the show are the writers and producers themselves.

Meet My New Office Manager

April 4, 2012 By Paola 10 Comments

So as mirrormirror begins its quest for world blogging domination, I thought it was about time I brought in a new office manager to get things organised round here.

Remember when I pre-ordered a Joan Holloway Barbie doll? AGES ago? And how I was looking for a suitable mid-century Barbie-sized 1:6 scale chair to sit her on? (Which was not an incredibly expensive Vitra Miniature)

Well when I was in New York last month I finally found what I was looking for in the MOMA shop – a 1:6 scale Panton chair (also available online at Lexington Modern in a variety of colours).

So today I finally unpacked Ms Holloway from her cardboard coffin and brought her in to kick some ass.

Unfortunately I hadn’t reckoned on the fact that she doesn’t have jointed knees, so after all that she looks rather ridiculous sitting on her Panton chair. And her skirt is so tight it rides up and shows the tops of her stockings. Not that I expect the real Joan would have minded that though.

Maybe I should have bought her the Vitra Miniature Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman after all. (Haha! No. Have you seen the price?)

I have to say that the attention to detail on this Barbie is wonderful, from her carefully painted finger and toenails, to the seams in her stockings and her exquisite jewellery. I’ve never had a Collector’s Edition Barbie before and I adore her.

Mad Men: Don Draper’s New Apartment

March 26, 2012 By Paola 17 Comments

Zou Bisou Bisou.

I don’t think I’m ever going to get that song out of my head.

I trust we were all watching last night? The big news of course is that Don Draper, apart from getting himself a sexy little package of a new wife - who I predict is going to be nothing but trouble – but has also got himself a sexy, new, not-so-little apartment.

Don now lives in the big city, away from Betty and her suburban angst and her suburban furniture (remember her er, lovely ‘fainting couch’?) in an apartment big enough that his kids can come visiting and where his wife can host wild surprise parties.

It’s a clever set. Instead of filling it with mid-century icons such Saarinen tables and chairs and Arco lamps (unlike Roger’s office with its shipped-in style), it just feels very comfortable and of its time, very sixties, but not ostentatiously so.

The colour scheme of burnt orange and turquoise is kept to the periphery and the accents - the aqua curtains, the seating out on the balcony, the orange kitchen cabinets and the gorgeous throw pillows, but the main body of the set is very brown, very boxy and very wood-panelled, with even the pattern on the curtains seeming quite subdued.

A little light relief is offered by the white cupboard doors, the white feature wall and of course the infamous white rug, with the occasional dark red painted door or panel, but in general the main body of the set is kept quite spare and neutral. Even the art on the walls is quite dull and nondescript.

Which makes sense of course if the marriage-threatening surprise parties you hold are such a riot of sixties pattern and colour. Weren’t the costumes in these scenes just awesome?

I managed to spot a few Sixties icons dotted about – the Catherine Holm enamel bowls, the Eames lounge chair, the Murano glass and the zebra-striped cushion. Did any other Sixtie s paraphernalia catch your eye?

And I have to give a shout out to the exquisite chandeliers in the entrance way, and that lovely low-hanging blue lamp. What did you like most about the set?

These images show how the designers had fun with costumes, party accoutrements and accent pieces to create a mood. I’m sure we’re going to see that mood darken as the season progresses.

I am certain the Husband had eyes for nothing but that glorious aqua Sixties vacuum cleaner in this scene.

So did you watch? Did you enjoy it? What did you think of the new apartment? Any particular objects you were coveting? I’m enjoying how the new Mrs Draper is quite literally leading Don by the balls. I’m sure that’s going to end up well.

Zou Bisou Bisou.

Go Fug Your Room: Adam Levine’s Hollywood Hills House

March 15, 2012 By Paola 2 Comments

Is the Husband reading? No? Good. Because here is where I confess to a teensy weensy crush on Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine.

It helps that he looks uncannily like an Australian I had a bit of a crazy affair with (it couldn’t be called dating) before I met the Husband, and I’m also really liking his attitude as a judge on The Voice (I think you really are revealing too much about yourself today, Ed) – he’s cute and funny and seems to really care about the contestants in his team and about music in general. I’d been afraid that he’d turn out to be a complete douchebag (how I still love that word) much like the handsome Australian turned out to be, but for me he’s added major charm points. Oh and I like his clothes.

But we all know that we can’t come to a proper conclusion about a man until we’ve seen the inside of his home, so fortunately Adam Levine’s house in the Hollywood Hills was featured recently in Architectural Digest so I could ascertain whether he was a worthy recipient of my affections.

Here’s Adam waiting to pick me up and whisk me off. It’s looking good so far, isn’t it ladies (and gay men)?

And here’s the kitchen. Some great furniture (a Florence Knoll table and some Jacobsen chairs). It doesn’t look like he cooks much, but I’d be happy to bake him a cake. A little bit of colour would be nice somewhere - this looks a bit like a space-age conference room – and the stylist who brought in the pink orchids obviously agrees. But overall not bad.

Oh dear. Purple VELVET? And the Chesterfield shape looks a bit incongruous and grannyish with all the mid-century stuff going on. I don’t like the rug either, something more graphic and less Miss Havisham would have worked better. And the dark drapes continue the ‘conference room at a mid-sized bank’ theme.

Admittedly it looks a little better from this side. I take it back, the van der Rohe daybed does work with the couch, and the big cushions outside are cool. I still wish he’d change that hideous rug though. Love the floor lamp.

This really feels like a musician’s house. Adam comes across as really loving music on The Voice and this feels really authentic and true to him.

However, I could do without more tufted velvet – I love the piece, but not here – and yet another granny rug, and although I have been known to like black walls in some contexts, this all looks far too dark and louche for southern California.

Adam, you are disappointing me.

Guns and Grammys? Seriously? I know you want me to know that you’re overloaded with testosterone, but this is all a bit much. I absolutely adore your sideboard though.

adam-levine-hollywood-hills-home-05-bedroom-lg

And THIS is the bed you are planning to throw me on to? Isn’t it, shall we say, a little staid and a bit Hilton Hotel-ish? More for snuggling up in flannelette pyjamas on your own with a good book, I’d say. And I’m not sure that black walls, looming portraits of hairy rockers and SKULLS are exactly going to get me in the mood.

I’m sorry Adam, but I’ve just remembered a prior engagement.

So my lovelies, what did you think of Adam’s ~~shag palace~~ tastefully appointed home? I really wanted to love iy, but to me it’s just too weird a mix of fabulous furniture, chain hotel and trying-too-hard mancave, with a hint of douchebaggery round the edges. But I have a sneaky suspicion that might be a pretty authentic reflection of Mr Levine’s personality anyway.

What do you guys think? Is this house fugly? Please post ~~your thoughts about his body~~ in-depth analysis of the interiors in the comments.

poll by twiigs.com

An astonishing 74% of you agreed that Ines de la Fressange’s Provencal home was fugly.

It’s Back! Mad Men Season 5

March 14, 2012 By Paola 5 Comments

I can’t tell you how excited I was to see these pics go up on the AMC website.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, Don Draper and co are finally going to be back on our screens. It really has been far, far too long.

We’ve been invited to a premiere party and I’m thinking of baking a Black Forest Gateau. I know that was considered to be the height of elegance in 60s Britain, but I’m not sure about the US. Should I be throwing Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup into a hotpot instead? I believe some sort of cocktail might be in order too.

I had a pet theory last season that whichever woman on the show is closest to Don’s heart ends up wearing green (watch season 4, it works!), and on that basis I’m glad to see that Don is still very fond of Joanie and Peggy and has major issues with the ex-Mrs Draper. Speaking of which, where is the soon-to-be-new Mrs Draper? My other theory is that she’s going to turn out to be a bunny boiler extraordinaire.

So questions for you. Will you be watching? Are you excited? Are you having a party? What retro 60s American food should I make? Am I the only woman in the world who doesn’t want to jump into bed with Don Draper? Which Mad Men woman are you? I’m Peggy, though my life is currently more season one Betty (without the double-life living husband).

Separated At Birth: Billy Crystal Oscars 2012

February 28, 2012 By Paola Leave a Comment

Finally, as Brit, it warmed the cockles of my heart to see Her Majesty take a break from her busy year of Diamond Jubilee festivities to bring her own special magic to the Oscars ceremony.

(And yes, I do know Billy Crystal isn’t gay, but that would have spoiled the joke. And besides, I still have very fond memories of him as Jody in Soap).

Downton Abbey Paper Dolls

February 20, 2012 By Paola 3 Comments

I know, I know.

Downton Abbey finished last night here in the US, ending on a spectacular high with a Christmas special which almost made up for the sheer ridiculousness of most of the preceding season, and you, as I know from my sobbing Twitter feed, are suffering from terrible withdrawal symptoms already.

Believe me I do understand, having mysteriously managed to watch the entire season last year *taps nose*.

But fear not, for I bring you solace in your hour of need, in the form of these utterly awesome paper dolls from Vulture.

Re-enact Matthew and Mary’s ‘will they, won’t they?’ romance, complete with the hovering spectre of dead Mr. Pamuk.

Marvel as Thomas and O’Brien engage in deeds of ever-increasing evilness for no fully explained reason, just because they can.

Help the Dowager Countess run the full gamut of emotions from irritation to disdain, all while sabotaging Cousin Isobel at the village flower show.

And don’t forget to send all the plot ideas you come up with to writer and producer Julian Fellowes, since on the basis of this season, he really could do with some help in that direction.

If you’re also missing the fabulous costumes and sets, here’s the post I wrote about Highclere Castle during season one.