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Monday, March 21, 2011

We Should Wear More Red

Dear Kristin,

You're welcome 

I think no on the PMagic inspired hair extensions:


Although those braids do look fun.  Nay, they make fun.  And maybe I need more fun.

Not my best outfit.  But a fine enough return to me photographs. 

Such as a strawberry red scarf.  Or a bronze necklace the size of a breastplate. Both are on my fun list.  But you already knew that.

Love,
J. Benny

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

You Are My Miss Ohio

Dear Kristin,
This one's been on my mind:


Find a clearer, more complete version at Captain Obvious. 

Love,
J. Benny
 

Monday, March 7, 2011

A Catchy Tune

Dear Kristin,
Here is a song I wish I'd been listening to for the last sixteen years:


I can't beat myself up for not listening to Cut Copy in 1994.  Because they're a newish band and this is a very new song and it's not Cut Copy in general that I want in my 5th grade world.  It is this song, this song that accesses a forever-Jenny part of me.  And when I'm fifty-three, this Jenny part will still be there.  I will love this song forever.  It's a weird and wonderful mini-epiphany, to be listening to a song on repeat and, three-quarters of the way through your nineth listen, to realize: you'll enjoy this song for as long as you live.  As long as you live.  Because it plays to an essential, lasting part of yourself.  Your essential-Jenny-self. 

Love,
J. Benny

Saturday, March 5, 2011

The Least Boring Parts of the Oscars

Dear Kristin,

Screenshot.  Anne Hathaway in a red Valentino posing beside an orange Valentino.

I stopped watching the Oscars midway through.  My video stream was on the fritz and, well, it wasn't really worth it.  Very blah.  Which was sad for me.  You know how I care, how I love and look forward to awards/presents.  These shows make me terribly nervous on behalf of those on stage, because they're so live, so capable of failing and falling.  I often have to mute my computer, leave the room, readjust the screen/sound so that I can't completely make out who, exactly, is on stage or what, exactly, they're saying. But such tactics are only used when embarrassment is inevitable, just around the river-bend.  Otherwise, I enjoy myself a great deal.  The actors and award recipients on stage are so giddy!  And so peopley.  They simply spew happiness. 

Still, I felt very little for/during this Oscars.  Neither giddy nor properly afraid.  And there were few dresses I truly cared for.  Only two that got me genuinely excited.  Here are a few I enjoyed, though they didn't make me spew happiness.  White sparkle:

Michelle Williams in Chanel Haute Couture, Hailee Steinfeld in custom Marchesa, Mandy Moore in Monique Lhuillier

Michelle's is a bit matronly (something about the sleeves, the untrying waist, the crew neck), Hailee's is very much an old word debutante, coming-out dress (fair), and Mandy's is very lovely and Mandy (fair).  I appreciated the illusion on hers, as well as the length and poof of Haillee's, and the subtly of Michelle's.  I did not love; I appreciated.  Although, damn:

Credit where credit is due.  A great beauty.  (Screenshot)

The Blues:

Anne onstage in Armani Prive (photo from HuffPost) and Amy all night long in L'Wren Scott.  
Amy's is Michelle's Chanel mated with Anne'e Armani, yes?  YesShe might just be the best of the three.

Berry!  Not quite love.  But not quite not not love either.  A crush.

Bright.  (A screenshot.)

Without further ado, here are the two that made me giddy:

Hi!  Annette Bening in Naeem Khan

Because she is giddy.  And has perhaps never looked so stunning.  And is in Naeem Khan.  And not just any Naeem Khan, Naeem Khan of the "Are You Shitting Me?" Fall 2011 collection.  And in one of my top looks.  And her smile!  And her emerald earrings!  And her man!

The whole package
I'm not sure I saw Annette spotlighted once during my limited Oscar viewing (red carpet and the show's first hour) and that's a shame because she looks spectacular and absolutely deserves to be seen and oogled.

Finally, my only Holy Cow of the evening.  Love at very first sight:

What an angle (screenshot).  She almost looks like an avatar, a Sims woman, unreal.

From the telecast:

To the point. (Screenshot.)

And the paparazzi picture:

Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Couture.  Photo (and all other untagged photos) from NYMag

She was it for me.  She was the reason.  She made me grateful for this year's Oscars.

Love,
J. Benny

P.S.  It's best when it's fun.

She's having fun, nevermind the dress.