I can’t help it, I have to give credit where credit is due and in this case, Jennifer Aniston deserves a hand of applause for making this woman over 40 feel inspired to go from
This boring look
To this sexy look I dream of duplicating
{For photo resources, please click here}
Wow, there are two things I am thankful for today: Fridays and the ability to find a momentary escape from the realities of life (even if it comes in the form of a photo shoot).
I sometimes wonder how it would feel to be pampered and prepped like a celebrity for a photo shoot, even for just one day. In light of this crazy thought I decided to include some of my favorite celebrity photo shoots, in hopes that I would get up the nerve to partake in a photo shoot myself in the near future. Anyway enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!
One film, which has touched me in more ways than one this year, is the film Certified Copy. *Note: please stay on this page if you want to read the girly version and click here if you want to read my review about the filmmaking aspect of the movie.
Also, this special piece I wrote on this site, on a Sunday no less, is also a reference point for my fans, from the other blog, to use if they don’t mind me giving away the plot. So here I go:
After seeing the film, Certified Copy, I walked out of the theatre feeling sad and depressed I just couldn’t believe the subject matter in the film and the impact it could have on most women across the globe, who want to see the film.
The story is about a 40 something year old woman named Elle (Juliette Binoche), who from the looks of things was a single parent living in a small village near Tuscany, Italy. A British writer, named James Miller (William Shimell) makes his way to the same village to promote his book about art and artifacts. Since Elle seems to be a fan of the writer, she attends his book promo event to get his autograph on her copy of the book.
While at the event, her 15 year old bored son insists they leave because he was hungry. After a lengthy argument with her son, she leaves, but only after giving the promo coordinator a note to invite the writer over to her shop.
James (the writer) accepts her invitation and with luggage in tow, comes to her shop the following morning for a brief visit, before catching a train out-of-town that same evening. (Are you following me so far?) While she nervously suggests they have coffee in her studio or shop, he asks if they could go for a drive instead. Unphased by her struggle to get her coat, he takes his luggage outside and waits by the car.
The next twenty minutes or so, while driving on a windy road out of the village, they argue about his point of view in regards to art, people in general and his and her perception about life. As the story unfolds, the arguments become more intense between the two and although the director tries to show the validity of the topics they argued about, in my opinion the audience became more confused with their erratic discussions.
I turned towards my friends and asked, “What the hell is going on here?” probably a dozen times or so and they occasionally did the same to me. We just couldn’t understand why the two argued so intensely. I mean if they knew each other from before, it would make sense, but if they just met (or so we think) for the first time, why argue so passionately during a first encounter? In my opinion, she was turning the guy off (but the joke was on me).
I finally came to the conclusion that the two had known one another before, but I had no idea until the very end that they were a married couple, living separate lives. While she raises their son on her own, he gallivants the planet in search of art.
I was furious to say the least. My emotions ran rampant, I couldn’t believe that in this day and age, that any woman in her 40s would allow her life to be this way. I began thinking the director made all this up. I blamed him for his lack of research and one-dimensional view on such matters. But then I put the blog entry in draft mode while I spoke to several other women over 40 and through discussion, I realized that this really does happen. That some couples opt to stay married even if they live separate lives!!! For the life of me, I couldn’t understand (I blamed the writer and filmmaker once again) and then it came to me over night.
What was I thinking, there are plenty of couples (fishermen, soldiers, doctors, scientists, astronauts, journalists, actors, clergymen, archeologists and film makers) who live separate lives, away from one another for one reason or another, for weeks, months, years on end, even decades and then they get together here and there and consider themselves a couple. But in this film, the way the story was told, the couple should have separated a long time ago. His behavior and lack of concern expressed in the film is not worthy of any woman’s undying devotion. I wonder if that’s the case in all cases?
Now, I don’t know if I can handle discussing this further, because it breaks my heart, so I am going to stop right here unless anyone writes back. But, although the movie, in my opinion lacked (believe it or not ) substance, I still recommend seeing it. Be prepared however, the film is in three languages and as a result, very difficult to follow.
Thanks for listening.
Although no particular gown stood out at the Oscar 2011 red carpet last night, I must point out the fact how disappointed I am with some of the celebrity women over 40 and their choice in gown and overall appearance for such an elegant event. See for yourself.
Nicole Kidman - worst look list for Oscar 2011
Helena Bohman Carter - worst dressed for woman over 40
Sharon Stone - worst dressed woman over 40
Cate Blanchett - worst dressed list for Oscar 2011
Melissa Leo - Worst Dressed list for woman over 40
Marisa Tomei - Worst Dressed List for women over 40
You know I actually was going to leave this topic for my other blog here, but since the fashion introduced on the red carpet is pretty influential and vital to the fashion industry and trend followers, I decided to include some of my favorites and not so favorites from this year’s Golden Globe for the over 40 crowd.
My list of picks for best dressed:
1. Jennifer Lopez - Zuhair Murad gown – best dressed winner in my opinion
2. Nicole Kidman – Prada gown – safe and flawless
3. Kyra Sedwick – Emilio Pucci gown – gorgeous in my opinion – vibrant colors and riskee but truly gorgeous.
4. Melissa Leo – gown unknown – safe, beautiful in a sequence gown.
5. Julie Brown – Tadashi Shoji – elegant and glamorous and very age appropriate
My list of picks for the worst dressed:
1. Helen Bonham Carter – Doesn’t matter what gown – disaster
2. Tilda Swinton – Doesn’t matter what gown – with her model like features, she could have dressed better.
3. Julianne Moore – again her choice of gown is a miss.
4. Halle Berry – Nina Ricci – although she looked hot, in my opinion she forgot to actually wear a gown over her under garment.
5. Sandra Bullock – Jenny Packham – not the best look for her beautiful features.
6. Edie Falco – Valentino gown – not a fan of her take on the one shoulder gown.
Posted in Acting, AMC, Black Swan, Fashion, Golden Globe 2011
Tagged Acting, Celebrity, fashion, golden globe fashion for women over 40, sexy, women over 40
Just in case you have opted to stay home for New Years Eve this year and are tired of watching reruns or reality shows on television, then consider renting some of the films I have listed below to keep you entertained.
So, grab a bottle or two of champagne, pop some popcorn, turn up the fire, snuggle under a blanket with a loved one or not and enjoy a movie or two or three 
1. The Apartment (1960)
2. Breakfast At Tiffany (1961)
3. La Dolche Vita (1960)
4. The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
5. Holiday (1938)
6. High Society (1956)
Posted in Acting, AMC, Family, Fantasy, fiction, holiday eating survival guide, inspiration, new years eve celebration
Tagged Acting, Celebrity, champagne, chocolate, classic movies for new years eve, French Inspiration Decor, movie night new years eve, new years eve celebration ideas, women over 40
I have always appreciated foreign actors more so than the ones in LALALand. I’ll tell you why. Talent,” natural” beauty, more talent, minimal drama and much more talent. However, some foreign actors (actresses) just to make myself perfectly clear, I appreciate for their physical attributions and outlook on life more so than their creative talents.
With that said and in light of this blog’s theme, I want to introduce one actress, who I think has not only aged gracefully, but in my opinion is one to be admired for her efforts to remain true to herself no matter how demanding her career and lifestyle may be. She is none other than the Italian actress, Monica Bellucci, who at 46 just recently (May 2010) had her second child with husband Vincent Cassel.
I can honestly go as far as comparing her beauty and gusto to that of Sophia Loren and Raquel Welch, and just by understanding her attitude through personal quotes and interview, I know that her core make up has contributed to her flawless outer appearance and beauty. She is well-known and admired throughout Europe and even when at her worst (her fluctuating weight) she has looked her very best. She is a true inspiration for the voluptuous woman and an individual to reflect upon when one’s self esteem is tested.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from Monica Bellucci which keep me inspired and focused:
“My body is so important to me… my face, my arms, my legs, my hands, my eyes, everything. I use everything I have.”
“Beauty becomes alive and interesting when it’s habited.”
“The human intelligence has progressed at the technological level; not at the level of feelings.”
“It is a handicap if you’re stupid, but not if you are intelligent and know how to use your beauty.”
“I feel fine and comfortable with myself, but not because I’m beautiful. I know many beautiful people and their lives are just so terrible. They feel so uncomfortable with themselves. Being comfortable is not about what you look like, but how you feel. I’m a lucky person because I’ve been loved a lot. I have a great family.”
“[Talking about why she will not move to Hollywood to further her film career]: “I could never live there. They are obsessed with youth and beauty even more than us. There is this thing in America where actresses reach 40 and go mad. The film industry wants all these young people. They also like a different sort of woman (to me). I will never be skinny. I also had a child a year ago, and I have been lazy. I love to eat. Who cares? I am natural.”
Have a nice weekend everybody!!!
Posted in Acting, AMC, Burberry London, inspiration
Tagged a makoever, Acting, cannes film festival, Celebrity, fashion, French Inspiration Decor, Hollywood, motherhood, sexy, women over 40
One word, which took me a while to get used to, is none other than the word “fashionista” and after looking it up in the dictionary to get the true definition of it, I discovered that EVEN this word’s meaning has evolved through time as a result of shows like “Sex In The City” and Sarah Jessica Parker.
I am certain that most any woman is aware of the show, the movies and Sarah Jessica Parker and of course there are some of us who admire her style and others who question it. But I must say, although eccentric and sometimes over the top, her sense of style is most unforgettable and a challenge for most anyone else to pull off.
So, here is hoping we can duplicate her conservative look as a woman over 40 and do our best to avoid the rest.
I am not a jealous woman nor envious but sometimes I just want to say, STOP IT “celebrity” you’re making me look and feel bad about myself. Yes, you might think this is childish but reality is that most women in their 40s have as much insecurities as teenage and girls in their 20′s.
It’s that whole, body deciding what shape it should be, sometimes no matter how much you exercise or diet, and then there are the wrinkles and the gray hairs sneaking up on you and the pre-menopausal state taking over. Shall I go on?
So, when we pick up a magazine or look online and see, in this case, Halle Berry, in all her beauty, we tend to second guess ourselves, physically that is because God knows what her personal life is like, and suddenly become sad (at least in my case).
I am not sure if she has had plastic surgery or a nip tuck or whatever and frankly I don’t care. I do appreciate the end result and in my own twisted way, use her physical appearance as my gage to try and look better, so that I could feel better about myself.
In the meantime, I always wonder why some women look their age and others don’t, and I also wonder why some women who have had children look like mothers and others don’t. I know its part genetic and no matter how many makeover shows and guidelines there are on TV or in magazines, the division is forever obvious between motherly women and the Halle Berry’s of the world.
So, I have no idea why I wrote this entry but I suppose a recent photo of hers online triggered it and I would love to hear your thoughts on this, if you have a few minutes to yourself today between taking kids to soccer or ballet and juggling laundry and grocery shopping while your husbands golf or watch sports on TV.
Posted in exercise, fall fashion, Fantasy, Fashion, Hair, inspiration, Makeup
Tagged a makoever, Acting, Celebrity, exercise, fitness, Guess Shoes, Hollywood, makeup, motherhood
