Snapshots. Weekend of Swimwear...

XOXO

Table...

It had been a while since I had been to the National Theatre to see anything and I have to say it felt good to be back there, made me feel cultured and put me back in my best behavior as a theatre student (lately, I've been neglecting theatre, or plays, in favour of dance, especially ballet.... can't help it, it is too beautiful). The play was performed at the new NT temporary venue, The Shed, not particularly beautiful (bright red wood in shape of a shed) but it serves its purpose (except for soundproofing). 

Table is a story mainly about family, and the strange bonds that it forges: love, hate, jealousy, sadness, solitude, duty... Each family is different but somehow we end up repeating the same patterns throughout history. No matter how much time passes by, mothers will always love, siblings will always fight and the ties which bind us to our family are never easily broken. In the play we follow the history of one particular family, from the beginning of the 20th century to nowadays. What was fascinating about it is the kind of empathy the story had (at least to me); all of us can relate to family matters: the losses, births, fights, marriages, love, heartbreak... All the emotions portrayed were common ground to all of us which made the connection with the audience both to a personal level but also bringing us together with the universal theme of family. While watching, I found myself thinking of my own family history, all the events which have led to this particular moment in time and how each action we take (combined with fate, if you might call it so, or a series of coincidences) has an effect in the future. 

Normally, our family history is passed from one generation to the next in oral form; bedside stories about our ancestors or loving tales from our grandparents about their childhood come to us throughout our lives and are stored in our memories but memory can be treacherous, uncaring; our brains work in mysterious ways, waving through our web of stored moments, deleting and saving almost as if by chance. That is why we keep material record of most memories we treasure, so if we ever forget the slightest detail, we can always go back and remember all over again, because our bodies remember everything, they just need a little help sometimes. The sturdy, wooden table of the story acts like a photographic album, recording every single event of the family tree; generation after generation, memories are stored in its surface in form of scratches, writing or bleach patches. This table survives the years, safeguarding the family's memories even when they seem to have been forgotten and opens a door to the past for the new generations to look into. 

Each family has their own personal table (or tables) that carries, almost literally, a piece of history. Snapshot moments captured inside an object or a photograph, which become incredibly valuable after the moment vanishes and we're only left with the memories inside our heads which, with time, become smoky and clouded. I keep a "table" of my own with me almost all the time. My father's watch, which was given to him the day of his first communion. Gold, with some scratches on the face. It is a bit too big for me and sometimes, it stops for no reason but it comes back to life when I shake it a couple of times. But the looks of it are not so important. It is when I think I have forgotten a memory I had of him, a day by the pool or a sleepless night in summer. When his face becomes a little bit blurry, I only have to look down to my wrist to see it all; or rather feel it. Feel him.

XOXO

Table is on at The Shed (National Theatre) until the 28th of May

Nutella Brownies...

Another chocolate recipe taken from my favourite baking blog Butter. This Brownie recipe is the most simple and easy thing you'll ever bake but believe me, it is so worth it.... 

I think I overcooked my mini brownies a little bit so keep checking on them because a few minutes will make the difference. I guess my inner Martha Stewart still needs a bit of work!

XOXO

Happy Birthday Mum .....

Today is a very very special day. It is my mum's birthday. And in my 20 years I have always been at home to celebrate it, except this year, and it doesn't make me a happy daughter. Living away from home is hard but it is even harder when you know you are missing important dates, like birthdays, because they are the few chances you get to truly celebrate that person and how absolutely important and neccesary it is to you. 

She's my mamma. To me, that says it all. I guess every mother-daughter relationship is different but I feel like I am so lucky to have her. She is the one that has raised me, influenced me and made me who I am today. It is thanks to her brave choices that I have gotten to experience wonderful things and travel and meet the different people that are part of my life. Whenever I feel restless, I know I can count on her to make me feel safe and at home, protected, even when we are miles apart (and she can't take me in her arms anymore, I am way too big now...) She is the strongest person I know and also the most kind and loving. She taught me that I can do anything, be anybody I want. But when I grow older I just want to be a little bit like her....

Feliz Cumpleaños mamá  ♥

XOXO

Gatsby revisited. Costumes...

With the FINAL release date of The Great Gatsby approaching (16th May), I wanted to come back to talk a bit more about the costumes of this highly anticipated movie which was due 3 months ago (previous post here)... The truth is I just wanted an excuse to look at the production pictures and woo over the 20s frocks that Mulligan gets to wear while dancing in a mansion with Leo Dicaprio (also wearing a suit and bow tie) I am not jealous of the girl, not at all...

The mastermind behind the costumes is Catherine Martin, Oscar-Winning designer for Moulin Rouge and nominated for Romeo + Juliet and Australia, all directed by Luhrmann. She had already worked with Miucca Prada in Romeo + Juliet to create Dicaprio's suit but for Gatsby, the collaboration went further with Prada designing 40 looks for the movie, all inspired by the Prada and Miu Miu archives. 

"Baz and Miuccia have always connected on their shared fascination with finding modern ways of releasing classic and historical references from the shackles of the past", said Martin. "This connection is central to our relationship with Miuccia Prada on The Great Gatsby, and has connected our vision to hers. In the same way Nick Carraway reflects on a world that he is within and without, we have tried to create an environment that the audience will be subconsciously familiar with, yet separated from" 

The designs take form of short shimmering dresses with abundant sequins, beading, crystals and fringing with colours going through shades of topaz and navy blue to emerald and gold. 

"Our collaboration with Prada recalls the european flair that was emerging amongst the aristocratic East Coast crowds in the Twenties added Martin. "The fashion of the time saw a development of a dichotomy between those who aspired to the priviledged, Ivy League look of wealthy Long Island and those who were aspiring to European glamour, sophistication and decadence. The collaboration with Prada reflects the collision of these two aesthetics"

 As for the boys, the brand Brooks Brothers has taken care of that. I am not surprised since the actual brand is mentioned on the original novel.

The accessories can never be dismissed and for this very reason, Martin teamed up again with a legend in the field, Tiffany & Co (which counted Fitzgerald himself as one of their clients) to design the Art Deco pieces that will be worn by Carey Mulligan (Daisy Buchanan), Elizabeth Debicki (Jordan Baker) and, of course, Leo Dicaprio (Jay Gatsby). The jewels are inspired by original pieces from the Tiffany's archive, genuine products of the creative prosperity of the 1920s which have also inspired a new Gatsby-esque line of the jewelers, Ziegfeld. And they are not the only ones. Brook Brothers has also released a capsule collection inspired by the world of Gatsby. Who said we can't go back to the roaring twenties?

XOXO

P.D Here is the new trailer featuring music from Beyonce (versioning Amy Winehouse), Jay-Z, Florence and the Machine and Lana del Rey. Using contemporary music on "period" films is one of Baz Luhrmann's characteristics as a unique director...

Snapshots.Suburban Feel...

Lazy Saturday afternoon walking around Victoria Park with  new vintage sunnies from Istanbul

XOXO