From Sasha

Okay, it was only a matter of time before Gossip Girl made it into the blog. Maybe I was trying to keep the lowbrow world of modern television separate from the world of fairy forest folk; maybe I felt you would be confused by my seemingly incongruent obsession with a show about rich teenage prep schoolers in New York City. But then, little by little, I realized– all of you are watching it, too! Ha ha! (And believe you me, that includes Amber here at Violet Folklore… big time.)

For the few among you who have yet to be initiated, I offer an explanation. No, I've never been– or tried to dress like– a preppy, in all of my life. No, I don't watch much TV– we don't even have TV service, and we haven't had it for 15 years. I have missed all the shows that have captivated my peers for the past decade: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Sopranos, Sex in the City. But then along came the show that brought me (and so many of my popular-culture-resisting friends) back to TV land– the utterly obsess-able Gossip Girl. It has a lot going for it: sassy, witty characters, outrageous fashion, steamy love scenes, and the most Jane Austen-esque-cliff-hanger plot twists imaginable on the little screen. For one hour, my brain is on vacation, and nothing else matters except the shifting reputations and alliances of these immaculately turned-out Upper East Siders.  Continue Reading... (619 words + 5 images, estimated 2:29 mins reading time)

From Sasha

Okay, I know it's not coming out til next year, but I can't help being Waaaaaay Excited about Tim Burton's film version of Alice In Wonderland. Not only is it inspired by one of the coolest books ever written, not only is it being made by one of my all-time-favorite-can-do-no-wrong directors, but the cast are my top actors and actresses of all time (Helena Bonham Carter has been winning my heart for decades, and Johnny Depp, well, no more needs to be said). Mia Wasikowska, who plays Alice, is new to me, but I already love her. I mean, she is Australian, she didn't dumb down her last name, and she has a face that is beautiful and intelligent. And the costumes, especially Alice's dress? Hello Dreamy!

Okay, eye candy I promise you and eye candy I deliver:

Mia Wasikowska as Alice

Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter as the Mad Hatter and the Red Queen

Anne Hathway as the White Queen

Does Alice acquire this awesome dress mid-movie or something? We'll have to wait and see, I guess!

Okay, can't resist one more pic of Mia, from her shoot for Teen Vogue:

I hope this means that more fairy-tale-esque and romantic dresses will be hot in popular culture this year. You know me, never a fan of Modern and Boring. Tulle, lace trim, and the flouncy skirts: yes please!  Continue Reading... (297 words + 5 images, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)