1920's Seductive Vampire Costumes: Inspired by The Vampire Diaries Television Show

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    As an aspiring Costume Designer I am often inspired by the things I see on television and in movies which inspire me to do little sketching projects on my own. This time I was inspired by a particular 1920's themed episode of the hit television show: The Vampire Diaries.

    It was season three episode twelve when the roarin' twenties came to Mystic Falls. In this episode "Do Not go Gentle", the gang gets dressed to the nines for the school's 1920s decade dance. 

  
And while the characters looked jovial and a little campy in their party tuxes and frocks; I couldn't help but wonder how these deadly and seductive vampires would have dressed had they actually been at an authentic jazz club during the 1920's instead of a themed high school function.

       

I was definitely inspired by the darkness and allure that comes with vampires especially with this show; I chose dark colors like black,dark turquoise, blood red and forest green to mirror that.

       I decided to implement the image of crosses in my designs due to the connection of vampires and Christianity. On this show and any others, crosses are ineffective on vampires so I decided to place crosses randomly in my design not to mock this idea but to show the boldness of the characters. Rebekah Mikaelson and Katerina/Katherine Petrova (the two characters I had in mind) do not try to hide who they are. They live their "un-dead" lives not by merely fitting in unnoticed, but lavishly in the lime light.

       Both Rebekah Mikaelson and Katherine Petrova are women who use their beauty and sensuality to their advantage; when they walk into a soiree you take notice! I wanted to capture that provocativeness in the clothing especially with the red velveteen mini dress. I choose the blood-red color and tantalizing cutouts to portray all this and evoke a feeling of confidence and desire right upon looking at the character.

I was also inspired by the animalistic nature of the vampires portrayed on the show so I decided to add different textures like leather, furs, and velveteen to the garments.

       

Thanks to this lovely website for helping me write this article; it has all the knowledge of everything Vamp Dies!

• http://vampirediaries.wikia.com/wiki/Do_Not_Go_Gentle?file=3x20-01.jpg

Trendy Tuesdays: Man Buns, the faux-hawks of the future?

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http://weheartit.com/entry/93040741?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=image_share&utm_source=tumblr

Hey guys! So just thought I'd do a short little post about a trend I see popping up more and more frequently among the fellas. So ladies and gents, without further adieu I give you MAN BUNS!

No, not those man buns; although these are just as good!

Lets start off with a brief history of another male hair trend known as the faux hawk. around spring 2009 David Beckham emerged with a new do in the form of a faux hawk; and it seemed men everywhere (and women alike) rejoiced after seeing Beckham’s shorter cleaner look, after years of longer, bohemian hair.

http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,629552_622382,00.html

http://hairstylesweekly.com/david-beckham-haircuts/

It didn't take long for the faux hawk trend to become an instant favorite, and despite some fashion magazines and blogs deeming the faux hawk as a trend that needs to end; the faux hawk is still going strong as a staple hair style among male celebrities today.

                                                                Headmaster  Zefron 

*if you don't get the reference click here*

http://yourhairstyleideas.com/32-the-best-faux-hawk-hairstyles-for-men-2013-pictures/

Adam Levine

http://hairstylesweekly.com/adam-levine-haircut

It was also a huge trend for female celebrities in 2013 and again it doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon.

Pink

pixiecutmania.blogspot.com

   Miley Cyrus Y'all

http://beauty.about.com/

                                                                        Rihanna

womenshair.about.com 

Who says that androgyny cant go both ways? As the new year unfolds, women today are cutting off their long tresses while men are growing theirs.

I first noticed the trend emerging on television last year when I saw former Victorious star Avan Jogia donning the hairdo in his hit ABC Family show Twisted.
                                                                      

tattoos.fansshare.com

  why hello there! 

  *insert embarrassing flirty face*

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/171770173261216001/

Then I noticed this handsome superhero sporting the man bun more and more on red carpet events.

Sweet Perfection

www.sodahead.com

     that's right you play with your ear you beautiful, beautiful man!

And then this happened at the Golden Globes this past Sunday cementing Man buns as an official trend for 2014,

Jared Leto looking like a smooth criminal at The Golden Globes

www.ellecanada.com 

Joaquin Phoenix keeping it classy!

nycprowler.com 

And Alex Ebert looking ummm...interesting.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1720380/jared-leto-alex-ebert-man-bun-hair-golden-globes.jhtml

Ok, no offense to Alex Ebert for going with the messy top knot but it's just not a look I particularly enjoy on men. He's not the only one to give it a try and most likely wont be the last; but I prefer my man buns on the lower side of the human head spectrum. Any ponytails/buns above ear placement on guys just makes me slightly uncomfortable. 

See, I think we can all agree I have a little crush on Avan Jogia based on the amount of times he pops up in my blogs but yeah, this hairstyle not really my personal fav. What do you guys think about top knots vs. man buns?

Noah Joakim with a topknot

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/45036064996334442/

Lets not forget the original gangster of man buns Orlando Bloom

kjandersen.org

Topknot

http://fuckyeahmenwithbuns.tumblr.com/

Mysterious Man bun!

http://fuckyeahmenwithbuns.tumblr.com/

 Really bohemian topknot

   

http://fuckyeahmenwithbuns.tumblr.com/

Super Fashionable/Tan/Coffee Man Bun!

So what is it about this European hairstyle that makes us all swoon? I'm not sure but I sure am glad more and more men seem to be catching on!

Throwback Thursdays: Gwen Stefani - Cool

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This Throwback Thursday Article focuses on the fashion and outfits of Gwen Stefani’s “Cool” music video which debuted in the summer of 2005. Gwen Stefani’s song and music video “Cool” directed by Sophie Muller, is about two past lovers, each of them moving on (one of them in fact finding new love) and yet still wishing each other well and remaining friends. The video follows the theme of the song, with wonderfully sentimental flashbacks of Gwen and her former lover played by Spanish actor, Daniel Gonzalez. Going along with the “it’s good to see you now with someone else” idea in the song, the video interchanges scenes of the past with the current, showing Daniel’s character introducing his new girlfriend played by Erin Lokitz to Gwen.

Before we get into the refreshing and nostalgic clothing of this beautiful music video (which has lovely nods to the 40's), let me just start off by saying that Gwen Stefani whether blonde or brunette is perfection!


  The video begins with Daniel Gonzalez’s character and his new girlfriend walking up to a beautiful Italian villa owned by Gwen. Ladies take a tip from Erin Lokitz here, if you are going to be meeting your current boyfriend’s ex for any reason it is MANDATORY that you look flawless!

Her hair, her décolletage, her posture…she just looks so regal!

1940’s hairgasm anyone? I’ll have what their having!

Could the hair stylist working on the video have been inspired by the lovely 1940's film noir actresses, Rita Hayworth and Lizabeth Scott .

It is clear that the song is inspired by feelings of nostalgia and it is easy to see in the music video as there are so many nods to 40’s fashion that it isn’t even funny. Like this still shot below of Gwen looking wistful and graceful as ever as she looks at this old record while waiting for her Italian hunk to speed up on a motorbike and rescue her.

Gwen's outfits and performance capture her as a young woman having a summer love along the streets of Italy.

*I need that dress in my closet to seduce hot Italian men; I love the stylist's choice to have the black bra peeking out in the front*



*Doesn't this just make you want to buy a blue vintage one-piece and drag your boyfriend to a lake...no? just me? ok moving on!*

Below Gwen and Daniel spend the day at the beach, and while everything seems fine at first there is a clear brewing tension between the two. Gwen looks lovely here with her beautiful 40’s inspired shrug and bikini top. I love her billowy peasant skirt; it has a little bit of a 50's feel but definitely works for the overall romantic look.



     

Daniel Gonzalez looks so handsome and scruffy in that scene like a cross between Noah from “The Notebook” and this handsome 40’s gentleman below.

  Gwen's golden locket is a subtle yet powerful symbol of young love (it could possibly be a locket given to her by Daniel’s character. As the audience we don’t know this, but the possibilities are both endless and timeless.)



As the video progresses we see Gwen and Daniel's relationship become increasingly challenging and tense as they drift further apart.

And we learned that a sad Gwen Stefani is in one word magical

But alas, all is not lost we see Gwen's character evolving into a mature adult. Gone are the playful and whimsical bikini tops, peasant skirts and maxi dresses. Gone are the sensual mini dresses and the shoulder length, bouncy brunette hairdo!

Instead there is a confident blonde bombshell who knows exactly what she wants and is clearly doing well for herself!

sipping tea is the classiest!

She trades in her past style for a bold leopard top with a more modest but still sexy pencil skirt. The styles are definitely more expensive looking.

*I love the touches of leopard in both styles showcasing a more mature and happier Gwen*



And after all the obstacles it's good to see all three of them genuinely happy for each other, not to mention beautifully dressed; coming together over tea and a playful barefooted walk in the sand.

 Thanks so much for reading, leave a comment telling me what you thought of the article and also thanks to the following websites for the gifs, pictures, and information in the article:

http://el-mundo-se-equivoca.tumblr.com/

http://tamucha.tumblr.com/

http://gigistum.tumblr.com/

http://jaimelestings.tumblr.com/

www.theskinnystiletto.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_(Gwen_Stefani_song)#Music_video_and_promotion

http://www.stickboydaily.com/movies/15-film-noir-femmes-fatales/