When Khunnai goes romantic

Khunnais,

From time to time, you might find yourself falling trap into the ambiguous thing called love or something felt weirdly similar. And then after a while, you find yourself unconsciously (and unwillingly) falling out of it. Don't get panic. The concept of love and romance can be recreated even when you are alone. It's the year 2000, anything can be done, honey.

You might have heard of this movie genre called "romantic comedy". But since we are khunnais, we don't just watch this formulaic film of this genre, but also watch other melodrama romance films. And when khunnai goes romantic, khunnai does it in style. The following are the scenes where khunnai is struck, speechless, wants to either laugh or cry (or both at the same time). They are not in any particular order, but they are all romantic.

The Age of Innocence
In a world of tradition. In an age of innocence. They dared to break the rules.

Archer and countess Olenska and their forbidden love in the high manner society of New York in 19th century. Aside from sumptuous costumes and settings, you would be attracted by the desire to express love and longing but unable to, so great that it's gonna burst. The entire movie was based on all these desires that they have to subside. Watch the scene where Archer simply taking off the button of countess Olenska's glove and gently kissed her hand. It's almost unbearable to watch.

Watch this video @ 2:20


Four Weddings and a Funeral
He's quite engaging. She's otherwise engaged.

Back in time when Hugh Grant didn't have so many crow's feet on his face. We were introduce to him in this movie and, boy, how much we have adored him ever since. In Four Weddings, he was awkwardly charming, he was the epitome of Peter Pan syndrome. We knew the type, yet we still fall for them anyway. Watch the scene when Charles was fumblingly telling Carrie he loves her, trying to compare to David Cassidy (his hit song was "I think I love you".) Finally he kinda knew what he felt, thou slightly too late since he was just done seeing her trying her wedding dress & all. It was adorable and therefore effortlessly romantic.

Watch this video @6:25


Sleepless in Seattle
What if someone you never met, someone you never saw, someone you never knew was the only someone for you?

Before Kate Hudson, Katherine Heigl, Anne Hathaway, there was Meg Ryan, a queen of romantic comedy (before she decided to pursue drama and failed miserably and injected too much botox into her lips). In this movie, it was the second time she paired up with Tom Hank. We love the pair, thou, quite magically they barely were in the scenes together. And that's why we think it is so romantic. The plot plays with cheesiness so much so that it became so not cheesy and just plain romantic. Watch the scene when Sam was talking about his deceased wife. I mean... I was dump-folded. And I was 15.

Watch this clip.


Before Sunset
What if you had a second chance with the one that got away?

I love them both, Sunrise & Sunset. But Sunset is more bitter, thus more romantic :) There are tons of phrases that knock you down like getting punched in a face. There are lines like:

'Memories are wonderful things, if you don't have to deal with the past.'
'I guess when you're young, you just believe there'll be many people with whom you'll connect with. Later in life, you realize it only happens a few times.'
'You can never replace anyone,because everyone is made of such beautiful specific details.'

Again, I love the entire movie, but romantically? OK, let's see 2 clips.

Watch @ 4:10 and watch the clip below to fully get what it feels like to be Celine



High Fidelity
A comedy about fear of commitment, hating your job, falling in love and other pop favorites.

He's done it in Say Anything, he did it again in High Fidelity. John Cusack, The ultimate guy next door. The movie, which based on the book of the same name written by Nick Hornby (who is a wonderful author), is a must for every music lover. If you the type that creates mixed tape (or mixed CD or iPod playlists, depending on the generation), if you the type that is pop culture junkie, you watch too many movies, listen to too many songs, read too many novels, then you'll probably love this movie. The movie opens with this:

'What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?'

Watch this scene when Rob proposes to Laura, but of course in Rob's way. I happen to think it's one of the most romantic proposal I've ever witnessed on big screens.


And those are only 5 movies. I still have many more in the list. Let's have episode 2 on this, khunnais. Till then, if love doesn't come knocking on your door, go rent (or download) these 5 movies and watch them over & over & over...

The One Hundred: A guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own

Almost one year later I visited bookshop at Triennale, Milan's design museum, and found another book from Nina (doesn't that sound like we're friends, eh?). This time it's:

The One Hundred: A guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own by Nina Garcia
This time a silver book, thicker in width, and deeper in content. The little black book was like an introduction to style, so this book is the perfect sequence to getting into the 'details'.

Khunnais, how often do you admire your closet? Be honest. And have you ever wondered whether you've got everything necessary? Maybe it's good to check up with this "One Hundred". It was so rewarding when you come across the ones in the list that you, too, regard of important things a girl must own and you yourself own in large quantity (in my case, A-Line Dress, Ballet Flat, Belts, Bikini, Black Opague Tights, Boyfriend cardigan, Cashmere sweater..let me stop at C). It was also enjoying to see the ones that is out of your style boundary (if you are the type of person that's already established your style). It triggers you to think that maybe you can also add that to your already large list of things to buy.

I would never thought of buying Animal Print, Aviator sunglasses, Converse, Charm bracelet, Man's white shirt, for example.

She also gives you the "how" to wear each piece, and some tips of how the craze of that piece started. So, khunnais, you will also get to learn some history of fashion, or in the bigger picture, pop culture.

Let me tell you which piece of the One Hundred triggered me to buy it. It was the piece # 40. Investment Bag. She says,

This is the bag that you can spend a few weeks' salary on and not feel guilty (or you shouldn't, anyway). It is going to last you a lifetime, will never go out of style, and will only get better with age. I always say that there are only a handful that are worth your money.

1. The Chanel 2.55
2. LV speedy
3. The Jackie O
4. The Birkin

These four bags are the staple items in every khunnai-to-be wish list. I've been dreaming of the Chanel 2.55 for about two years now, and still couldn't pull together buying a bag worth almost 2k. But I know I will buy it some day. I'm just waiting for the moment. I will have to blog about this one on its own.
The book again comes with pretty illustrations by Ruben Toledo, so it's the book you enjoy reading & looking. It also comes with links to related websites and so on. All in all a good book to refer to fashion-wise.

Oh did I tell you how delighted I was that I discovered Castaner on my own (with a little help from P' Fah, the Bangkokian style icon I know and love) and it happened to be also the chosen brand espadrilles (the ultimate summer shoe to wear with sundress) on this book. I bought 2 pairs this summer at my favorite shoe shop Luca on Via corso Vercelli.



To end the blog, I'll quote the piece # 68: Polo Shirt, which I found hilarious.

...It found its way into the urban jungle when the fashionistas began embracing all things prep and geek. Of course, to give it a fashion look, the prepster/geek uniform should not be copied too literally: it should be stepped up into an entirely new fashion level. (Note: No uniform should never be copied to literally -- everything has to be stepped up and made unique. Everything.)

I happen to have 6 classic polo shirts and unaccountable adaptations of those classics. That's all...

The Little Black Book of Style

Khunnais,

Who says khunnais do not read books? We do. Once in a while when we are free of socializing events, fashion weeks, day-long shopping adventure, weekend getaway to 10-course eating trips, etc etc. That's when we have time to sit down and read something.

And when we read, we read something worthy.

Something written by a role model of our time like Nina Garcia, a former fashion editor of Elle Magazine, and the poshest commentator from the fabulous show Project Runway.
I read two of her books so far. One is:
The Little Black Book of Style by Nina Garcia
A book, small one, dressed in black, full of principles of how to dress in style and why that matters. This book talks about dressing up at a conceptual level. She's not saying that you have to follow every season of fashion. She's saying that how you dress defines who you are, and gives you some guidance if you want to really dress in style.

I like her writing, because it is not forceful. She is not trying to reprimand you. She just uses her experience to give you some tips, if you allow her so. And so that's exactly how you shld take this book, not as a bible, but as an easy read to reassure your sense of style. Within the book, she would quote something smart like:

What you wear is how you presents yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language.

MIUCCIA PRADA

Then she adds something like..

A style icon knows
- How to edit.
- To invest in "the bones" (the classic trench, the little black dress, cashmere cardigans or turtleneck..).
- To buy with drama. If she falls in love, she takes it home.
- The utmost importance of shoes. Lots of shoes.
- The power of accessories.
- A good tailor.
- How not to be the fashion victim.
- It is not about the money.
- How to mix it up.
- How to be imperfect.

And who could argue her with that?

I stood at the book shop browsing thru it for 5 mins and I knew that this lady knows what she's talking about. Btw, the illustrations are very style-appropriate. So the book itself is also stylish, and very fun to read in toilets, in airplane, or during bad dates. I will write about her other book in the next blog. And will end with her lasting words from this book:

...you will find that style comes from adoring yourself enough to dress up for you and you alone. Because, in the end you are the only judge that really matters. Style is a matter of finding out who you are are and who you want to be in the world. I hope you choose to be fabulous, daring, fun, inspired, and yourself.

...and a quote.

If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she's late? Nobody.

THE CATCHER IN THE RYE

If you think you are a bad luck charm to the trip, think again

Sure there could be a series of unfortunate events that might point into the same direction that something (badly) unexpected always happen, when you, khunnai, are part of that activity.

It might seem like you are some kind of a bad luck charm to whatever trip or event you want to go. When you happened to buy MJ last concert tour in London and booked the flight to go to London for the weekend, MJ just happened to die two weeks before the concert. So you ended up going to London anyway seeing just O2 stadium without even the shadow of MJ. (Not to mention that you missed stupid Ryan Air flight and the lovely weekend seemed not so lovely afterward -- more on Ryan Air cautions later)

When you happened to buy a ticket to Rock concert festival just because you want to see Oasis which was supposed to be the last band performing, Noel Gallagher decided to quit Oasis 2 days before the concert. And since it was a concert festival, the other bands were still playing, and so you wouldn't get the money back. So you went anyway to see small little bands you never heard any of their music and Deep Purple (who came to replace Oasis) trying to survive playing rock concert in their 60's. And you wondered how Deep Purple and Oasis are so much in similarity.

When you bought the plane tickets, booked the hotel, booked the car, planned all the agenda (or when someone else in the trip was kind enough to do all that for you) for the weekend in Palermo, Sicily, the ever diverse part of Italy, there happened to be pouring rain that caused flood & mudslide into the region. And you had to cancel at the last minute everything you planned (or someone else in the trip was kind enough to cancel everything for you). And you walked home with the luggage you stayed up thoughtfully prepared each wardrobe one by one the night before. And you ended up blogging about the entire story.

If there are more than 3 similar stories happening to you, you think you probably have something to do with it. Oh gosh... isn't that terrible? First, MJ died. Then Oasis split up. Then there was a flood in Sicily. Were they all because of you? Shld you keep all this to yourself or tell your friends coz if they knew, they wouldn't go to any trip with you anymore.

May I say, khunnais, regardless of how likely the situation is shaped to be, it's not because of you, dear. No matter how much you would like the world to circle around you, if you're not as "hot" as the sun, the world would not do so. And I know you're gonna argue on the level of hotness you possess. You can't win over the sun. So MJ died because he had a heart condition thing. Oasis split up because of Liam and Noel (and not you!). There was flood in Sicily because there was a lot of rain.

It might be fun to use this to test the real friendship with your friends -- to see which ones still wanna go with you even though you are a bad luck charm to the trip. Thou I doubt that anyone would not want to travel with such an over-dramatic, self-absorbed, yet ever more entertaining khunnai like you!

P.S. The intention for this article was meant to lighten up, so my apology if it offends anyone. Please note that it is not done on purpose at all. And I really hope the situation in Sicily gets better very soon.