Album: Blithe Desert

A House That's Only 12 Feet Wide

We now switch our focus over to inspiring world of architecture for this post. This house is located in the beautiful city of Barcelona and is only 12 ft wide! But who say's width matters when the square footage is 4000. That's about the size a of a city block. On the outside from the front or back this building looks completely normal. You wouldn't expect anything much of the interior. But oh boy, is the architect ever sneaky.

The interior of the home is absolutely stunning, with elegant and modern aspects.

- Astrangerelegance

Now On Bloglovin

A Stranger Elegance is now on Bloglovin'. For those who aren't quite sure what Bloglovin' is, just think of it as a mix of twitter/tumblr but it's blogspot.

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Zuhair Murad

(Zuhair Murad Fall/Winter 10/11)

These days, when talking about high designer fashion, common names like Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, Valentino, Chanel and Vera Wang are usually the ones to come up first. But it's the underrated designers, the new souls that are slowly captivating the heart of fashion in society now. One designer, Zuhair Murad, has definitely made his statement and gone to the top of my list, of designers to watch out for.

Zuhair Murad is a lebanese designer. His opulent creations are by far among the most beautiful pieces of fashion out there, mirroring Egyptian and Grecian goddesses with his use of laces, sequins, silk and other luxurious fabrics. But Murad is also a genius when it comes to adding a modern variation to this pure timeless look.

A personal favorite dress of mine, is one that Blake Lively wore on an episode of Gossip Girl (picture right above). I just love how intricate and elegant the lace and fabric are interwoven. It's a pewter gray long sleeve lace gown with silk draped in the front and sheer skirt. The dress is a piece of art on it's own. Not to mention Blake Lively looks lovely as ever.

(Picture Left: Zuhair Murad in Paris: Fall/Winter 10"11)

Among others to wear Zuhair Murad are Nina Dobrev, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood, Anne Hathaway, Miley Cyrus, and Beyonce.

Check out his collections for Fall/Winter 10/11, Spring/Summer 10/11 and Fall/Winter 11/12. I guarantee you, among the feathers, sequins, lace, tulle and studs, that they won't fall short of your expectations.

- Astrangerelegance

Inspiration: Sofia Coppola

Without a doubt, Sofia Coppola is one the most classiest, imaginative and inspiring women out in society today. She's a filmmaker, writer, producer, model, and an actress and she's not even 40 yet! Her style is beautiful, and the tones and lighting that's associated with her are the complete definition of artistic and elegant.

(Maryna Linchuk, photographed by Sofia Coppola during her Miss Dior Cherie commercial)

As a filmmaker, well she's got to be my personal favorite. The Goddess of Indie Films, Sofia always seems to create these stunning atmospheric and impressionistic films in a quiet yet impeccable style. She's also the first american women to be nominated for an Academy Award for her film (which she WROTE and DIRECTED) Lost in Translation in the categories of Best Director, Best Movie, and Best Original Screenplay (she won). Her other works include: The Virgin Suicides, Marie Antoinette, and Somewhere. She's an absolute genius. There are no words to describe my love for her.

(Sofia, directing Bill Murry in Lost in Translation)

She's also done some modeling for Marc Jacobs, and has co-founded her own clothing line "MilkFed". Her most notable work in fashion, is that she is THE director of Miss Dior Cherie fragrance commercials. Paris, roses, black dresses, tea pots, strawberries: this is what I live for. All elements of the perfect tasteful commercial that is Miss Dior Cherie.

(Natalie Portman models for the latest Miss Dior Commercial)

And lastly, as a person, Sofia Coppola is just simply wonderful. She sets an example that women in Hollywood belong there just as much as men. And sometimes do it better. She defends fashion as an art form against those who call it silly and superficial. She is a true artist of our generation.

- Astrangerelegance

An Insomniac's Playlist

Sometimes, in the dead night, reality will just make you a hostage while you beg for the sleep that never seems to come. And as you lay awake at 3:24 am with your bed sheets tangled and eyes blank and open, all those unwanted thoughts, the buried feelings start to invade your mind making you even more restless. Insomnia, wakefulness, inability to sleep, whichever name you prefer, it's still a nuisance to deal with. It's also something that's been plaguing me for the past couple weeks. But what helps is listening to music. Calming music. It's no magic sleeping potion, but it does helps for what it's worth.

So if you're going through what I'm going through, or if you just have one of those restless nights, here is my personal playlist that "induces sleep". It's pretty diverse ranging from instrumental to french ballads to soft alternative rock, but all create the same tranquil tenor.

An Insomniac's Playlist

1. Get Up [Barcelona]

2. First Floor People [Barcelona]

3. Volcano [Damien Rice]

4. Human [Civil Twilight]

5. Warning Sign [Coldplay]

6. The Scientist [Coldplay]

7. Dead Hearts [Stars]

8. Twenty Years [Augustana]

9. Your Ex Lover is Dead [Stars]

10. Winter Winds [Mumford & Sons]

11. After the Storm [Mumford & Sons]

12. Love Lost [The Temper Trap]

13. Sleep [Meiko]

14. Night Time [The xx]

15. Shelter [The xx]

16. Corbeau [Couer de Pirate]

17. Transatlanticism [Death Cab for Cutie]

18. Passion Play [William Fitzsimmons]

19. Maybe Be Alright [William Fitzsimmons]

20. Everything Has Changed [William Fitzsimmons

21. What do you go home to? [Explosions in the Sky]

22. Stolen [Dashboard Confessional]

23. Empty Room [Marjorie Fair]

24. Off I Go [Greg Laswell]

25. Tornado [Jonsi]

26. In My Veins [Andrew Belle]

27. Poison and Wine [The Civil Wars]

28. World Spins Madly On [The Weepies]

enjoy and goodnight

- astrangerelegance

Metric

Reasons this band is so good:

1. They are Canadian

2. They are part of three genres: indie rock, new wave, post-punk revival.

3. Their song Black Sheep was featured in the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

4. They write their own songs, with their lead singer Emily Haines contributing most of the lyrics. She also has really amazing style.

5. They include a synthesizer, and a theremin.

6. They have been based in Montreal, New York, London, and Los Angeles.

7. Some of their songs like Poster of a Girl include french lyrics... affiche d'une fille.

8. They reference the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in their song Gimme Sympathy.

9. Their album Fantasies was short-listed for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize for Canadian album of the year, and won Alternative Album of the year at the 2010 Juno Awards and Group of the Year.

10. Listen to Combat Baby.

Other formidable songs include: Grow up and Blow Away, Dead Disco, Help I'm Alive, (Eclipse) All Yours, Sick Muse, Gold Guns Girls, Stadium Love, Front Row, Monster Hospital

- Astrangerelegance