Far into the outback...

Queensland Outback Australia - Expansive Landscape, Boulia Photo - Courtesy of Tourism Queensland

Last night, I watched Walkabout, a breathtaking film directed by Nicolas Roeg in 1971. An oasis of experimental editing, characterized by strong visual composition combined with extensive cross-cutting and the juxtaposition of events, location, or environments to build his themes. The soundtrack is alternately intriguing and lyrical, made to measure by John Barry himself, and Edward Bond's storyline is captivating.

If you haven't seen it yet, run to the nearest video store and rent the Criterion Collection DVD (the "original, unedited director’s cut"), if you saw that film, you know what I am talking about. Oh, and you might feel like asking if I was not too disgusted by the hunters' scene or by any other of the chop-chop scenes. Hmm, of course I was, a bit ...but, I know the ways of the world and was introduced to death at an early age. For your information: I grew up in the country, lived on a modernized farm (but a farm, all the same), and am the daughter of a butcher-caterer . So the meaty or bloody scenes did not make me feel too too sick.

I rather observed it all as a case of anatomy, I guess. With a lot of interest and curiosity- what if this was to happen to me one day? Would I survive the experience? A question of life or death. I pondered over the eerie and yet so real quality of this cautionary tale; well worth learning a lesson from these young wanderers: a British high school girl, her younger brother and a young indigenous Australian boy; all undergoing their ritual Walkabout through the Australian outback.

Nicolas Roeg, the British filmmaker, improvised greatly during filming; he has commented that "We didn’t really plan anything—we just came across things by chance…filming whatever we found."The poem read at the end of the film is Poem 40 from A.E. Houseman's A Shropshire Lad.A real journey. Paradise (or Innocence) Lost, found, and ultimately Paradise Regained in the wilderness; back there. Down under...

William Blake's vision of Paradise Lost...

Happiness is happening...

Today has been a wonderful day both outside, and inside! I could literally hear the wedding bells chiming all around me... David Bowie and his Fill your Heart was for me today! Happiness is happening...It started with an unusual meeting, whose subject will be revealed after August 17th, it went very well and the outcome should be a great experience! After that meeting, Marco and I went to B Espresso Bar, on Queen East. Hmm, for a second we put the blame on our detox diet (that will last all of August) as it prevented us from drinking a deeply unctuous, black Italian espresso, but we compensated our crave with a very flavourful green jasmine tea. Happiness was happening then, all the same! B for Buonissimo...

The rest of the day just gracefully unfolded, you know, like one of these Victorian fans, richly adorned with evocative and picturesque details.

Lunch was fun, I had just an hour to get it all ready so I prepared a ratatouille with lamb chops and roasted garlic, which were greeted with great success by my two co-lunchers, Marco, and his twin brother, Miguel. Note that a ratatouille is very tasty hot (don't forget the coriander seeds, it is the secret touch for me!), but I find it even better cold, at dinner time or the next day...either with cold meat or with just an avocado and a few sardines on the side. Vive la Provence!

My espresso ratatouille of the day!

The afternoon was devoted to work and to house-cleaning - now, everything is in order. I like it like that too. You know when the tiles are shiny, the shelves, rid of the dust, and when the wooden floor smells of polishing wax. Ahh, reclining on the sofa, I am now writing this post and as I look around, I think to myself 'what a wonderful life!' Have I forgotten to tell you that, to top it all, I am listening to an incredible vinyl (a 1963 Angel Stereo recording), CRRRRrrr! The crispy sound is part of the pleasure, isn't it? Well, I am playing the complete orchestral works by Maurice Ravel (conducted by André Cluytens and interpreted by the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra), impressively dramatic and intimate: Le Tombeau de Couperin, La Pavane pour une Infante Défunte, Alborada del Gracioso, (Listen! This piece is conducted by my favourite conductor of all times, Sergiu Celibidache) to name but a few...If you don't know them, try them - and tell me how it feels!

Ravel at the piano, accompanied by Canadian singer Éva Gauthier, during his American tour, March 7, 1928. At far right is George Gershwin.

Des plumes Février en septembre...

A scene at the Opera House from Max Ophül's The Earrings of Madame de...(1953)

Ladies and gentlemen, after having reviewed what might suit a gentleman on his big day, or for any other big day, really; please allow me to now focus on my bridal outfit. I must admit that I had one choice too many, as I had three possible outfits...As a matter of fact, my first idea was to get married in an ivory-coloured Nina Ricci silk suit for the civil service and get changed at night for the reception. I've always liked the soberness of a suit for a civil wedding, but then I realized it was perhaps a bit too serious, or too mature for the occasion. I therefore decided to change plans, I will wear my suit for the next-day brunch, no big deal!
This being said, I looked for new ideas...and there, while browsing Weddingbells website, I found my ideal bridal gown. Wow! For me, it embodies everything that I crave, but is unfortunately far beyond my reach!

Oscar de la Renta, spring 2010 collection: a whimsical headpiece with a state-of-the-art lacy dress, I looooove this style!

Fair enough, I got back to the ivory-coloured vintage 1950s dress that I originally wanted to wear for the reception and ball. It has been voted by the majority, that is to say by those who can see it (excluding the groom-to-be, naturally), as the dress to wear during the day, as it is very bride-like but not meringue-like at all, no no no! But now, for the evening reception and ball, I will be wearing a Vera Wang evening gown, very beautiful but...black. Hmm, so I thought in order to ease the storm of gossip that I would raise wearing a black dress on my wedding day, I asked a Parisian friend of mine to come rescue me with a feathery, lively headpiece, rich in white feathers that would counterbalance the black. Julien Leydis is a very talented fashion designer; he was the right man to ask for help, for sure. I dropped him a line about the delicate subject in an email last week, and a few hours later, I received this sketch:

WOW! This is absolutely gorgeous! But then, I thought to myself what will happen when I dance the tango , the feathers might well tickle my partner's nose when dancing . So I just asked Julien if he could curb them a bit as I remembered a scene from the film by Max Ophüls, The Earrings of Madame de...(see picture above), and Julien came up with this second sketch:

Both spectacular and elegant, don't you think? The feathers will come from Le Plumassier de Paris, La Maison Février, which, since 1929, has been the sacro-saint place for feathers in Paris. The House's prestigious clients include Mistinguett, Josephine Baker, the Lido and Moulin Rouge or Chanel, Jean-Paul Gaultier, etc. Supplying feathers to both the cabarets and the haute-couture collections.
Yes, it does not happen often, but now you understand why I will be wearing February feathers in September...

What suits a Gentleman...Part 2

Here are 10 more elegant gentlemen, for your eyes only.
1- My favourite 007, Sean Connery in the 1960s, as you can tell from the notched collar tuxedo and the small bow tie. Nice!

2- My favourite secret agent, John Steed, played by Patrick Macnee on the British series, The Avengers. One of Steed's trademarks was his impeccable dress, consisting of a Savile Row bespoke suit, a metal-plated bowler hat and an everpresent umbrella by James Smith & Sons (here hidden in the weeds).

3- Herbert von Karajan, the orchestra and opera conductor. Renowned for being strict and charismatic but flamboyantly animated too when conducting. Isaiah Berlin referred to Karajan as "a genius, with a whiff of sulphur about him"... Watch him conducting the Berlin Philarmonic. Enjoy!

4- Marcel Proust, and his remarkable style both as a novelist and as a dandy. Here, I love his tie, boutonniere and gingham trousers.

Count Robert de Montesquiou (1855-1921) by Giovanni Boldini, , Musée d'Orsay, Paris.

5- A notorious poet, art collector and dandy of his time, Robert de Montesquiou was the inspiration for Baron de Charlus in Marcel Proust's À la Recherche du Temps Perdu (In Search of Lost Time). Notice his sophisticated pose, his Duke of Richelieu-like moustache , and his suit, perfectly fitted in a beautiful shade of gris de perle.

6- Jeff Buckley (1966-1997), the modern Romantic figure of avant-garde music, who heralded both musically daring and overtly emotional approaches. Here wearing a heavy black velvet coat with the Grace of an angel.

7- The Duke! Wow, he really had the swing and the style that goes with it. The tie bar holds the knot high up, and the fluffiness of the handkerchief gives the whole style its ease and elegance.

8- Rudolph Valentino in a tuxedo that is so perfectly fitted that it looks like a corset. Wow! I want the same!

9- Ahh, a breathtaking case of Italian sprezzatura. The nonchalant elegance of Vittorio Gassman on a scooter, wearing a Prince de Galles suit. Ready for a ride, ladies?

10- Pierre Cardin and Yves Saint Laurent, master and disciple united, 1965, Paris- Photograph by Willy Rizo. Stripes, structural frames and paisley for YSL and rich grey wool suit with peaked lapels for Monsieur Cardin.

Helmut Newton's iconic 1975 photo of YSL's Le Smoking

Last but not least, I haven't found anything more suitable to conclude on than YSL's 1966 Le Smoking, the pioneering tuxedo suit for women...Talking of women, now is my turn to delve into what will make my bridal outfit look like me. Hum! Let me think...

What suits a Gentleman...Part 1

Our big day drawing closer, my fiancé and I are getting quite obsessed with the last finicky details in our outfits...Last night, as he was researching on the internet as if to resolve the sartorial conundrums of the perfect tuxedo suit, he got really animated and passionately reviewed the styles he would go through.

I thus started to draw a mental list of who I considered as an inspiring male stylish icon. Here is my top-ten list of the moment...

1- Cary Grant, both impeccably elegant and charmingly bold, as always. In this photo, I love the detail of his mother-of-pearl cuff links!
Memo: My current favourite film starring Cary Grant is George Cukor's Holiday (1938), with Katharine Hepburn. A treat!

2- Alain Delon in The Leopard (Il Gattopardo) by Luchino Visconti - one of the happy few who can wear a black band or patch on his eye, and still look hyper stylish! As a young girl, I found this aristocratic dandy-pirate look of his so irresistible that, for years, my ideal name for a baby boy was...Tancrède (Tancredi, Delon's character in the film).

3- Gary Cooper. Notice the thin ring! I love his ease and confidence in style, not to mention his childish elegance in Mr Deeds goes to Town by Frank Capra (1936)...

4- Serge Gainsbourg, the French singer, composer, poet and great agitator -a perfect dandy with a twist.

5-Omar Sharif in a tuxedo shirt with a wing collar, stiff in the attitude but so graceful; a must in Funny Girl, directed by William Wyler (1968)

6- Jacques Dutronc, the French crooner with a cigar and an attitude. Wearing three-piece suits or tuxedos was his signature in the 1970s. See Jacques Dutronc sing Gentleman Cambrioleur (Gentleman burglar).

7- Yves Klein. Photograph of a performance by Yves Klein at Rue Gentil-Bernard, Fontenay-aux-Roses, October 1960, by Harry Shunk. Le Saut dans le Vide, Leap into the Void, leap but confidently and in a black suit...

8- Noel Coward, the English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit and flamboyance; unparalleled. Here in a white dinner jacket and a waistcoat with lapels.

9- Jean-Louis Trintignant, playing the ice-cold conformist in his tailored suit (notice the slender silhouette) - from The Conformist, directed By Bernardo Bertolucci.
10-Vincent Cassel, falsely casual. Notice the thin ring, again! - © John Rankin

And 'hors-catégorie', the man who has taught me how to look better at the details of a suit, the one and only gentleman that suits me...

Marco Jacob © Miguel Jacob

Avec Plaisir

Wonderwoman

As you already know, last Saturday three friends of mine took me to St Jacob's Market for my bachelorette party. I thought I could totally trust my girl friends - but my firm belief got a bit shaken when I entered the car and saw the boa and the tiara waiting for me...Fortunately enough, the individual flasks of champagne that Jen provided to the crew (except for her, the driver, of course) quickly eased off my trauma! I agreed to wear the boa and tiara for 5 minutes in the car and that was it! I felt like a hybrid of Wonderwoman and Zizi Jeanmaire. Mon truc en plumes ...

Zizi Jeanmaire and her Truc en Plumes
After Dark June 1981

When we arrived at St Jacob's market, a Mennonite market, I realized that men there have created the perfect society for them to enjoy; the women work on the market...

...and the men go shopping.

Not being Menonnites ourselves, we decided we could do like them, the men that is, and go shopping! So we headed to the Antiques Market. Every booth was perfectly organized and every item, neatly labeled - I had the weird impression that what I was seeing was not real antiques as they were too clean. But I got used to the Old Order's sense of order and my eyes were caught by several interesting pieces, among which was this milk glass set...

The girls and I reveled in a shop full of extraordinary antique jewellery and bought ourselves earrings, brooches, hair clips and necklaces for next to nothing.

My set of earrings...

Tess also found a beautiful hat, look!

Tess and her hat

After a day of fun, we needed to finish on a higher note and so we went to Benjamin's, a charming vintage local inn, where we had a delicious dinner.

Jen, Lara and Tess : Le trio de charme!

There the girls offered me a very thoughtful present, a gift certificate for a fine lingerie shop, Avec Plaisir...

Brigitte Bardot wearing a fancy corset in Louis Malle's Viva Maria-1965

Of future Brides and Rites...

Today was my day! Or what we call in France, my fête as indicated in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints- mind you, it is not to be confused with the local "bonne fête" being an equivalent to "happy birthday" for French Canadians here.

Jour de Fête (The Big Day), directed by Jacques Tati - 1949

But strangely enough, tomorrow is my day, again! Tomorrow, I am taken on a trip to celebrate what is more commonly called a bachelorette party in Canada, or the "enterrement de vie de jeune fille" in France. Hum, I didn't feel the urge to have any, really, as my years as a young maiden or even as a Catherinette are long gone but I eventually accepted...

A vestal virgin, detail of an engraving by Sir Frederick Leighton- c.1880
In Roman times, the Vestal Virgins remained celibate for 30 years on penalty of death.

Under the express condition, though, that I would be spared the sleazy paraphernalia so typical to the parties I have seen around...meaning, pub crawling orgies exhibiting the 'Bachelorette', performing her pantomime and wearing all the props ranging from the veil planted on her head to the T-Shirt with an inspiring message printed on it, all this while watching the savvy contortions of Chippendale strippers.

Bachelorette tops... Not for me.

Yes, I accepted because I trust my girl friends! How beautiful is that? And also because I know it does not mean the end of my life as an individual who craves her moments of solitude or of sisterhood. I will have many more nights out with my girls even as a married wife! Now, this being said, I am really looking forward to celebrating the end of a certain idea of singlehood and to undergoing this sort of ancient ritual. I am well aware that this secular ceremony will take me a step closer to the wedlock and that my wedding will mark a significant change in both my personal and social status as another and bigger rite of passage.

Signing The Register (Detail) by Edmund Blair Leighton

I am going to be introduced to my future married life by a wonderful trio of friends, namely Jen, Lara and Tess. My special request was just to have a picnic outside of the city, and they have been kind enough, as I am sure relieved too, to comply with my desires ! After consulting each other, they came up with a delightful idea. Tomorrow, we'll embark on a journey to Waterloo's St Jacob's Market - how appropriate when you think that my future married name is Jacob...

The real McCoy...in the old Mennonite fashion. I love it already!