Friday Flicks // Dark Shadows

Another Cinema trip for Rhi and her younger sister Livvy - last weekend we caught up with Gothic director extraordinaire Tim Burton's adaptation of the 1960s series, Dark Shadows, , and once again Rhi found herself completely distracted from the film thanks to the fashion fest throughout the film (She makes a habit of this, see: Hunger Games vs Devil Wears Prada) ...








Well known is the dream team of Depp & Burton, the pair have been knocking all other movies off the top of my favourites lists with each new release for as long as I can remember. However, I always get most excited when reading that my most admired costume designer of all time, oscar winning Colleen Atwood, has once again been drafted in to dress the characters in Burton's films (a la Edward Scissor Hands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Alice in Wonderland, Big Fish & Sweeney Todd - not to mention her work outside of Burton's films in Chicago, Lemony Snicket and Memoirs of a Geisha - to name but a few). I don't think I have mentioned before, but while at London College of Fashion I had aspirations of working in Costume Design for film, so Atwood is somewhat of a heroine of mine, I get a little fangirly over her fantastical creations - so please bear with me!

The 1970s setting really worked so well with Burton's style of contrasting riotous colour with darkness, with costume and set design - like Edward Scissor Hands and his gothic figure standing out against the candy coloured suburban backdrop. Apparently the vast majority of the costumes were purposely created for the film - with a few vintage finds thrown in for authenticity (I spy original Ossie Clark on HBC in one of those promo pics, actually let out a squeal when I saw it!). Highlights above include: Victoia's capelet (swoon!); Eva Green in that jaw dropping red number (I could turn...); Chloe Moretz in the most amazing array of print dresses (especially that bib fronted one, want it and/or need it!); Michelle Pfeiffer's Karen Carpenter via Morticia Addams looks (apparently inspired by a David Bailey book entitled 'The Birth of Cool' - currently going for £300 on amazon, who wants to get me an early extravagant birthday present...?); Helena Bonham Carter's blouses with pinafore ensembles paired with an orange wig and huge sunglasses (essential due to her characters perpetual state of 'hungover') and, of course, in any incarnation or costume - Johnny Depp. Dish. 

No film set in the 70s would be complete without a sensational retrospective soundtrack - Danny Elfman (another regular Burton collaborator) writes yet another amazing score that sits alongside some truly great classics - and a performance by Alice Cooper ("the ugliest woman I have ever seen" according to Barnabas Collins, Depp's character). So I shall leave you with the Moody Blue's 1967 hit 'Knights in White Satin' - the opening track from the film.

So need to buy original Dark Shadows (the Barnabas Collins episodes) DVD, if only the full series was available in the UK! Feeling the need to revisit other supernatural families of the 60s - might be a good time to stock up on The Munsters and The Addams Family too, gosh don't get me started on the their iconic costuming as well, jeepers! Feeling my inner teenage goth creeping out!
Have a lovely weekend sweets!
Much love,Rhi xx

Friday Flicks // HELP!

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 Hooray, it's Friday once more & we have a long bank holiday weekend in front of us! Rhi will be returning to Twee Towers with Little M later today after their week trip to Scotland! In fact, my bestie better hurry on home before I get too used to this solitary lady of the manor thing... not sure how much you'll appreciate by new routine of prancing around, singing at the top of my lungs before bedtime, Rhi!?
I know it's nothing new but I've been on a bit of a Beatles musical pilgrimage again this week. With James heading up to Liverpool to start rehearsals for his next little run of gigs, we've been dreaming about moving up there, laughing at John & Paul's supressed giggles in this video, and we finally got round to uploading the videos we recorded at the Paul McCartney gig we went to in December!
Therefore, it was only apt that today's Friday Flicks featured the 1965 classic, HELP! Just a tip - the whole movie is available to watch on youtube if you fancy a watch. In the meantime, i'll leave you with the song, 'The Night Before' which features on the album Help and our own recording of Elenor Rigby!

Apologies, video quality isn't great but who cares, it's Macca... singing Elenor Rigby!

Much love amigos, 

Lauren xx

Friday Flicks // A shame filled date...

Hey lovers,


Lola here, I got back to blighty yesterday after a quick trip away to Berlin with the boy! Had an amazing time, I've been trying to think of ways to pick up Twee Towers and plonk it over there... so far, Rhi's suggestion of attaching 5 billion balloons and flying it over Up style is currently the forerunner. Found lots of new favourite spots too which I'll share with you over the next week or so!


Finally, enjoying a moment catching up with Rhi's post and what's been going on in Twee Towers over the past few days, (feel like a new reader catching up from this perspective!) love her idea for a DIY sunglasses case, so cute! We've been like ships passing in the night at the moment and Rhi's off to London today to catch up with old buds! In the meantime, I thought I'd share a quick Friday Flick with you...


Last night we went to our local theatre to see Steve McQueen's recent release, Shame. Oh my golly gosh! I suppose we should have guessed from the subject matter and the trailer what to expect it but even still, I did not prepare myself to see that much of Michael Fassbender's appendage! Would definitely recommend a watch, just perhaps not on a first date, or with your mother...








one // two // three Carey Mulligan's character was cute as a button, as the over-emotional and equally messed up, Sissy, storming her way into her brother's life with a colourful array of vintage hats.

Don't forget that you can still enter our giveaway this week to win yourself a 7" of The Maccabees' new single, Feel to Follow with this week's After Dinner Dance Party... just leave a comment on the post to let us know you're following us, good luck!

 

Have a lovely weekend!

Much love,
L&R xx

Friday Flicks // Moonrise Kingdom & Velvet Cave

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At last amigos, the weekend is upon us, time for a Friday Flick! Oh my, is anyone else insanely excited for Wes Anderson's new film, 'Moonrise Kingdom'? A new Anderson release is always an exciting feat but this looks incredible. Set in the 1960s, the plot centers around a young boy and girl falling in love and are moved to run away together. As always, Anderson's use of colour looks simply dreamy, especially against a backdrop of 60s props and beautiful costume. Not to mention the cast line up features Bill Murray, Edward Norton and the delightful Frances McDormand (her role as William's mum in Almost Famous wins her a place in our hearts forever). Oh, and not forgetting that Francoise Hardy makes up part of the soundtrack. Cannot wait. Hurry up and get in the cinema already!




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Talking of pretty 60s things, this week we've also been lusting after the new collection of vintage replicas by Velvet Cave Vintage, (also featured in our Swinging Saturday Style!) especially the green shift dress, inspired by the dress worn by Karen Gillan in 'We'll Take Manhatten!' We might need one...

Hope you have the best weekend!

Much love,

L&R xx

January Highlights...

Hey Sweets,

What a lovely start to 2012 January was! Here's our highlights of this months' posts...

After wishing you all a Happy New Year we got stuck into Refreshing & Reviving our studio and She Dressed in Black as a blog...


Our Number 1 highlight was without a doubt making our very first silent film recipe for Chocolate and Violet Cupcakes!



We also really enjoyed showing our experiments from the studio and sharing tutorials for Fancy Pants and Chevron Patchwork Cushion.





Part of our 'Refreshing' was to bring in 'Vinyl Revival' to our After Dinner Dance Parties
Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4



Literature Love - Limehouse Blues and 1969 Playboy




We did a mini shoot to show off our favourite brands from our wardrobes. Rhi picked Jovonna London and Lola showed off her Alice Takes a Trip collection. Plus some behind the scenes snaps...


We reached 100 followers! YAY! So we gave a few somethings away to our followers :)


Lola showed some of her adorable illustrations in response to the question "If you could do anything tomorrow, what would you do?"


Rhi unleashed her inner geek...


We celebrated Twee Tower's regular Colour Wizard Chris' 24th Birthday with cocktails and northern soul...


We shared some more art from around Twee Towers by Rob Ryan


We announced the launch of Stitch n' Bitch


We had some blustery Twee Troubles


And another new feature - Friday Flicks, kicking off with An Affair to Remember, followed by Band A Part

Busy, busy, busy! February is going to be even more hectic here in the Twee Studio so we shall be bringing you some fabulous guest posts - can't wait to let our friends loose on the blog again, hope you'll enjoy them :)

Much love,
R&L xx

Friday Flick

Feet up, wrapped under blankets and sipping on insanely delightful Rose infused Lemonade (seriously, the nicest drink in the world!) and eating our way through cinema style pick'n'mix bags from our stash left over from all last months parties and Christmas gifts! Tonight we're watching Band A Part - nothing like the very lovely Anna Karina to make you happy at the end of the week! Here's our favourite moment in the film, set to some Nouvelle Vague loveliness. Parfait!

Blissful evening. Enjoy your weekend sweets!

Much love
R&L xx