Week 23: La Semaine Française. Colours of France!

Welcome to the French Week on my blog! For my first look Française I opted for the proud, bold colours of the French flag: Blue, White and Red. The highlight of this look is my Chanel-esque tweed jacket that I found at the Make Me Chic online store. The jacket is classy, beautiful and looks more expensive than it actually is.

I completed the look with another classic French fashion staple– a striped top, blue jeans, a bright red hat, pretty flats and my all time favourite Chanel bag.

SHOP THE LOOK:

Striped Top - Club Monaco (similar here) |  Jacket - Make Me Chic | Hat - Emilio Pucci |

Bag - Chanel | Shoes - Pretty Ballerinas (I also LOVE this pair!)

 

Make Me Chic has an amazing range of clothes and accessories. You should visit their website right now because they just put new items on sale!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DENNIS CHRISTIANS 

 WWW.DENNISJCHRISTIANS.COM

Week 22: Witches of Manhattan. Bells, the Blog & the Brooklyn Bridge.

What the Blog is About?

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While I often want to share my views on current events happening in the world, I try to stick to writing about culture, fashion and books. I don't like offending people and hurting their feelings, and I also don't think certain views on politics, finances, educational system etc. should be shared publicly if they are not researched properly. Nowadays we are all content creators, and I refuse to add to this maddening storm of misleading information as you never know who is reading it and who it is going to affect.

I believe in a proverb "Let the cobbler stick to his last". It comes from an ancient story about a shoemaker who criticizes a work by a Greek painter named Apelles, saying that the shoe in the picture wasn't portrayed correctly. The next day, the shoemaker, quite proud at seeing the former error corrected, thanks to his advice, begins to criticize the leg; upon which Apelles, full of indignation, pops his head out, and reminds him that a shoemaker should give no opinion beyond the shoes.

Therefore, I promise that on Pastiche.today you will only see properly researched information about historical persons and cultural events, fashion styles I really wear and like, recommendations on books I actually read and films I have watched. I promise not to feed you any information to sell you something or write reviews on places I have never been at for the sake of having it on my blog.

My goal is to create this wonderful online place for you where every Theme Week you can immerse yourself into a new fantasy and get interested and excited about a new subject. I want people to come back here and to my social media to find inspiration not only for their wardrobes and reading lists, but for their everyday lives!

As you have noticed, sometimes I do not upload all the content for one Theme within 7 days, and I often update the lists, links and themed shops many days after they are published. The reason for that is that I don't want to create quick content; that is why you won't see me praising that ugly Kenzo H&M collection or wearing other fast fashion trends. I want people to come back to different posts and Themed Weeks when they feel they are interested in the topic and find all the necessary information even months after it was created!

Am I talking off-topic too much today? :) Let me return to our Witches of Manhattan Week. For my last witchy look I decided to wear this extremely sexy, black romper with bell sleeves. Bell sleeves are such a classic attribute of any "witch outfit," that I feel that you don't even have to add anything else to make your dress or romper look more magic-infused. However, the revealing lace-up front of my romper from NastyGal (similar here) is an additional dramatic detail.

At the end of this post I linked to a few of my favourite bell sleeve dresses, rompers and tops for you to shop. Go for black or deep red for the ultimate evil sorceress look, or play with the lighter colours and floral prints to feel like a Medieval princess who appeared in the 21st century!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DENNIS CHRISTIANS 

 WWW.DENNISJCHRISTIANS.COM

Romper - NastyGal |  Heels - Kurt Geiger | Sunnies - Tom Ford

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Week 22: Witches of Manhattan. Best Witches in Film and TV.

Magic has been fascinating me since I was a little child. I was too impatient to wait for my parents to read to me before bedtime, so I was absorbing fairy tale books by myself from morning to dawn when I was just three years old. While other children played with dolls and teddy bears, I immersed myself in worlds of magicians, beautiful sorceresses and evil queens.

At the time, my dad had a rental VHS spot in my city, and we had access to all the latest movies. I especially vividly remember the film Willow with its lush magical world and the frightening and glorious evil Queen Bavmorda. When brainstorming my list of the most memorable witches in film and TV, I immediately thought of her, especially because people tend to forget about this movie altogether.

Year after year, my interest in witchcraft has only grown and I have discovered many new films and TV shows with enchanting white witches, Evil Sorceresses and modern day magicians, and I would like to share my favourites with you.

So, Abracadabra, witches, read my list below:

1. The Three Witches from Macbeth

The Three Witches in William Shakespeare's Macbeth represent evil and darkness and tempt Macbeth with their prophecies. With the prophecy that Macbeth shall be king, they lead him to the path of his own destruction. It is incredible how with just a small appearance in the play, the ominous Three Witches and their many representations in art and film, can make your blood run cold.

Bonus: Visit Sleep No More in NYC to encounter The Three Witches! I even interacted with one of them during the show.

2. Seventh Son

Julianne Moore is stunning as a wicked witch, Mother Malkin, in Seventh Son. The fantasy film also stars Jeff Bridges, Ben Barnes and Alicia Vikander, who is growing on me with each new role she plays. Unfortunately, Seventh Son was a big flop in the box office, but I enjoyed it very much.

3. Salem

I have just started watching this wicked show inspired by the real Salem witch trials in the 17th century. I can never say no to a period costume series, especially if it has a supernatural element!

4. Practical Magic

This beautiful film tells the story of the Owens sisters, who come from generations of powerful witches, and follows them on their quest fortrue love. I have watched this romantic film so many times. I love it!

Bonus: Did you know that this famous film was based on the bestselling book? Buy it here on Amazon!

 

5. Snow White and the Huntsman

Queen Ravenna is a ravishing Evil Queen and she might eat your heart. Literally.

6. Geillis Duncan in Outlander

I am not going to spoil this for non-book readers, but Geillis Duncan is a wonderful, complex character in the Outlander series. Love her or hate her, she has powers and she knows how to use them.

7. Queen Bavmorda in Willow

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, Willow was my first favourite fantasy film, and evil Queen Bavmorda probably made an appearance in my childhood nightmares. 

8. Witches of East End

I was so disappointed when they cancelled Witches of East End in 2014! It was dark, sultry and gorgeous. I definitely recommend you watch this show. There are so many little details and stories that inspire me to continue writing my novel.

9. Craft

A 90s classic, this horror film tells the story of a group of teenage girls who practice witchcraft, and later use it to curse every one who wronged them at school. I usually despise scary films, but this one is entertaining and has just the right amount of spooky.

10. Stardust

The main antagonist of Stardust, Lamia, is the most powerful witch in Stormhold. She lives hidden from the world with her sisters, Mormo and Empusa, waiting for the right moment to regain her rule over the land and obtain eternal beauty by eating the heart of a star. In the meantime, she consumes people to stay young and beautiful. What would a woman NOT DO for eternal beauty?!

11. Charmed

Let's face it, we’ve all watched at least a couple episodes of this long running show about the three Halliwell sisters who discover that they are descendants of a line of powerful witches. Each sister has a special ability: controlling time, moving objects, prophetic powers, and they can also use their powers together to fight all the demons in our world.

12. Hocus Pocus

This Disney comedy is about three wicked witch sisters who are resurrected in Salem on Halloween night, and two teenagers who are the only ones who can stop them. Hocus Pocus is definitely a Halloween classic!

13. The Witches of Eastwick

A great dark comedy about three dissatisfied witches, unaware of their powers, living in Eastwick, Rhode Island, whose lives change when a mysterious, rich man, Darvyl, moves to town.

14. The Chronicles of Narnia

Queen Jadis cast a curse upon Narnia, that it shall be frozen and cold. The Long Winter she magically forced upon Narnia, earned her the title, the "White Witch".

15. Once Upon a Time

I am currently watching season 6 of Once Upon a Time, and to be perfectly honest, it is not as good as it could be. There were a couple of seasons I really liked, and of course I adore everything related to my favourite fairy tale characters, however sometimes it is painful to watch. Not all of the actors are great, the effects and props look cheap and the plot often annoys. But if there is one thing I love about it, is its Evil Queens!

16. Harry Potter

How could I leave witches from Harry Potter out of this list? 

17. Enchanted

Queen Narissa in Disney's feature hybrid film Enchanted is a beautiful, but cruel, vindictive, power-thirsty evil witch.

18. Red Priestesses in Game of Thrones

Carice van Houten has been on my radar since the Black Book film, and I am pleased she was cast as Melisandre in Game of Thrones. However, now I am also excited to see more of another Red Priestess, Kinvara, who debuts in the 6th season.

19. Penny Dreadful

Ben and I love watching this show together. It is eerie, grim, sinful and beautiful in its delicious blood stained darkness. From mysterious and powerful Vanessa Ives, to the evil coven of witches, whose every appearance makes my hair stand up on the back of my neck, this show has plenty of wicked beauties.

20. The Brothers Grimm

The Mirrored Queen, portrayed by gorgeous Monica Bellucci, is the Thuringian queen, treasured by all of Europe for her unbelievable beauty. Absorbed by her own reflection, the vain and selfish queen cares only about her appearance and uses black magic to gain eternal life and youth. I find her story one of the most compelling and I wish Hollywood made the whole film about the beautiful Mirrored Queen.

Week 22: Witches of Manhattan. SHOP

My curated selection of Halloween 2016 gift and fashion items is now live! Which item is your favourite?

Check our other curated theme shops here.

Week 22: Witches of Manhattan. Dark Side

What would you imagine a modern witch wearing around Manhattan on a daily basis? I fantasised a little bit for this theme and opted for a sexy, black, lace top, burgundy lips and dark jeans for my "casual witchy" look.

Not a lot of people know this about me, but I am very interested in magic, its history and the science behind the mysterious. There are real witch circles in big cities like London and New York, and I experienced them first hand, purely for research reasons. I don't like talking about it, but among curious folk like me, aspiring authors in search of inspiration, and clearly insane people, there were few individuals who stood out.

It was interesting that among eccentric women dressed up as Elviras, mistresses of the Dark and Professors Trelawneys, the real witches, in the way I see and understand that term, attracted attention only with their natural magnetism, and a sense of serenity about them. That is what I tried to portray in today's look.

Shall we explore the dark side?

Photography by Dennis

www.dennisjchristians.com

Top - Shein | | Jeans - Levis | Bag - Prada

SHOP THE LOOK: