So, lately we’ve been obsessed with the decadence and glamour of the 1970s disco scene, especially in Europe! And when we found this video by avant-garde superstar Amanda Lear, we found it to be the perfect combination of vintage awesomeness and spooky elegance!!!
We didn’t know very much about this divinity (don’t worry…we will be working on giving her an honored place on our altar of Style Idols & Divinities), but we have been delving into this marvelous woman’s life like no one’s business!
Here is a woman who hobnobbed with The Beatles, David Bowie, Brian Jones, Bryan Ferry, Andy Warhol…had the model looks of Verushka and the voice of Marlene Dietrich. Not only that, she was a close confidante to THE Salvador Dali, and remained one of his closest friends and muses until his death. She even closed Jean Paul Gaultier’s 1980s pop music muses collection back in 2013!
What is so wonderful about Amanda is her mystery . . . sometimes things are best left to the imagination, and Lear keeps this enigmatic quality to this day (her birth date and nationality is still unclear, as well as other rumors circulating)!
This is what we respect most of this bad ass woman! Just be yourself, and everything else will fall into place.
Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti ( 17 January 1933 – 3 May 1987) better known as Dalida (داليدا)
+Before Beyonce there was Dalida.+
This exotic beauty of Italian descent and born in Cairo, Egypt rose to international fame throughout the 1960s and all the way to her suicide in the 1980s. A suicide over a broken heart only days after appearing in television interviews perfectly normal…love was her worst enemy in life.
She sold upwards of 140 million albums; Beyonce has sold 17 million solo, and 17 million with Destiny’s Child which really puts it into perspective (although, our girl Rihanna has sold upwards of 230 million records, so . . . ).
Special thanks to +THE ULTIMATE FASHION HISTORY+ Channel and its fabulous curator Amanda Halley for introducing us to this dazzling Diva. I’m sure we will focus on her again in future posts! The more you dive into her memory, the more incredible she becomes.
There was actually a biopic released in 2017 about her which we are dying to see! Check out the trailer here.
This is a wonderful disco extravaganza from 1979-1980 (?) entitled “GIGI IN PARADISCO”. It’s a total odyssey of 1970s crazy euro party glamour!
Let us know what you think in +COMMENTS+ below…
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance…
When we say the name Maila Nurmi, you might not know who the fuck we are talking about. What if we were to say, Vampira? Of course!
Our current climate is so influenced and inspired by her delightful darkness, gothic glamour, and overall irreverence to almost everything! Oh, and did we mention she was friends with James Dean and Elvis??!
You might have even read our STYLE {DIVINITY} tribute to the goddess of creepy chic. Somehow in the 1950s at the height of conservative moral values, this daring Finnish actress rose to stardom with a status-quo bashing gig as television’s first last night horror show host of The Vampira Show which officially premiered on May 1, 1954!
As Vampira she retold the story of women in the media – not just prim and proper and ready to serve; the only thing Vampira was ready to serve was a bloody head on a platter for brunch. Its still hard for me to wrap my head around how she was able to get away with her gruesome take on House & Home living. All the more reason to worship this divine creature for everything she stood for.
Now, while Maila found popularity playing Vampira, she was an actress in Hollywood playing many roles. This next clip we found, we fell in love with – showcasing her talents in another rebel archetype that was taking hold in America in the 50s: the lousy beatnik.
A precursor to the hipster of today, a gateway to the free love hippie movement of the 60s and 70s. The beatnik was every conservative’s biggest pain in the ass. Like millennials of the atomic era- they were often viewed as aimless, pretentious, and overall whacky.
This clip taken from the iconic Beat-era classic “The Beatnik Generation” features Maila Nurmi pissing off a couple of squares with her off beat poem sporting a short blonde haircut and a rat on the shoulder; she completely oozes this infamous generation’s vibe to the max! Its very comical…and tell me she doesn’t look a bit like Katya Zamolodchikova ?!
Anyways, we thought is was all too fitting for The Eye of Faith and had to share! Lets keep empowering the brave, and blessing the bold, and letting people be the best they can be inside and out!
Let us all be a bit more like Ms. Nurmi, shall we?
Based on the French comic series first published in 1967 and reappearing again in 2010, Valérian and Laureline; the trailer is full of astounding moments that dazzle the eyes (that PALETTE, though?!) and are all the more amplified by the surge of emotions provided by the addition of the very first original recording by the Beatles to ever appear in a movie trailer!
Sounds like a big feat, but apparently all it took was for Luc Besson to ask Paul McCartney himself.
“I just asked! We reached out to Paul McCartney, and he asked, ‘What is the film?’ and then he said yes! I never met him – I wish I could, to thank him. From what I heard, he’s seen a couple of my films…There is a vibe that I think, from what I heard, made him say, ‘For this one, because it’s at least new and fresh.’ So I think that he likes that. He likes to be part of something new.” {source}
While the French director certainly isn’t a stranger to the genre of science fiction, count on today’s advances in technology breaking the walls down for true aesthetic mastery, much the same way he did years ago with the stellar 90s masterpiece “THE FIFTH ELEMENT“!
According to most conspiracy websites, the Queen of Witches herself: RI RI , GOOD GIRL GONE BAD , MISS SUNSHINE . . . RIHANNA where you at?
Well, if you’re asking yourself that question, here’s the second teaser to drop this week to get another look!
Alright, if you haven’t spotted it yet, lets post our own little teaser below, just because . . .
+SORRY NOT SORRY+
Only Luc Besson could pull of making this film, and we can’t wait for it to land in theatres July 21!
We were super inspired, as always, by the style and look of this film – most particularly that super rad vintage Hawaiian graphic shirt that Dean DaHaan sports in the film! Are we not always saying that a wicked wild graphic shirt is absolutely timelessly cool?!
We are proud to admit that we are absolutely obsessed with Lana Del Rey (along with the rest of the internet) – her melancholic croons and her unapologetic approach to bringing the {past} to the {present}, truly mirrors our own approach at The Eye of Faith to try and shape our {future}.
So, of course, we have been buzzing over her latest video drop just the other day for her new single “LOVE”. How apropos…
In true Lana style, her team takes us on a sweeping visual journey from grainy 1960s black and white realness to a dreamy extraterrestrial getaway for a pack of beautiful wayward youth. It’s like a picture from a dream; and no artist can really capture that mysteriously nostalgic vibe of needing to “escape our everyday” – I mean, who doesn’t want to escape to another planet with their best friends?
Truly breathtaking moments that conjure up feels from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and Lars Von Trier’s “Melancholia“. From floating trucks and many moons, to the spot on psych rock styling – this video is truly one of her greatest, and is not to be missed.
Vintage inspired posters of Lana Del Rey have been spotted plastered across the streets of Los Angeles, and elsewhere in California, so expect a big resurgence of the 21st Century’s truly unique Pop Diva this coming year!
Knowing how you feel about the things we love, we truly thought you’d appreciate “LOVE” by Lana Del Rey. Marvel at how so many inspirations truly have come to play to make this video come to life. That is what is so great, and important about staying {style-wise} – creatively, it can allow you to create a much richer and deeper experience which is exactly why we began The Eye of Faith in the first place!
So do enjoy the video below, and leave your comments when you are done, and stay tuned for more to come!
My Soul. I summon to the winding ancient stair; Set all your mind upon the steep ascent, Upon the broken, crumbling battlement, Upon the breathless starlit air, “Upon the star that marks the hidden pole; Fix every wandering thought upon That quarter where all thought is done: Who can distinguish darkness from the soul
-William Butler Yeats, excerpt from “A Dialogue of Self and Soul”
Garbage did the same thing, only 15 years ago, which in our world makes it certifiably vintage!
That makes it all the more fun to revisit now and marvel at the power of Shirley Manson’s voice and the seductive lyrical quality that only a GREAT Bond song can provide.
We still think Shirley Manson is a timeless style icon whose fashions are mesmerizing menageries of things {PAST}, {PRESENT} and {FUTURE} which in our {EYE} makes her the BOMB-DIGGIDY.
That’s why we made this special {MUSIC MINUTE} a {STYLE WISE} edition, as well, to keep feeding some Shirley Manson realness to the forefront of our popular culture!
+
The world is not enough
But it is such a perfect place to start, my love
And if you’re strong enough
Together we can take the world apart, my love
So there you have it. A little taste.
Colleen Nika at Rolling Stone Magazine wrote a comprehensive article on Shirley’s fearless and truly individualist style throughout the years.
Maleficent has always been a character that has captured our imagination. Since childhood, the prima donna of Disney villains seemed to strike a creepy chord in a way that no other cartoon evil could.
It could have been her sultry voice provided by the insatiably listenable Eleanor Audley (check her out in all her non-animated glory below), or perhaps it’s the sheer imagery of that everlastingly long black cloak with those crazy twisted ram horns that make her the epitome of devilish delight to our child-like eyes.
Whatever it may be, there’s no denying the staying power of she. It’s been 55 years since Disney first released its vivid version of Sleeping Beauty based off of Charles Perrault’s La Belle Au Bois Dormant, and the Grimms Brothers’ Little Briar Rose, and in the spirit of regeneration the {past} has made its way to the {present} yet again in a epic retelling of the story as seen through the eyes of the maniacal maven herself. . .
It’s a name that will be on everybody’s lips in a few short months with an early release in France & Italy on the 28th of May, and the rest of the world, including the US on the 30th. It’s months away, but we can’t stop drooling over the new trailers which are feast for the senses in themselves, showcasing Elle Fanning’s angelic beauty as the Princess Aurora, and the Queen herself, Angelina Jolie taking the screen as the iconic villainess.
It’s bound to be a huge hit, and much praise shall be given to the cast and crew for creating this movie magic marvel. . . there’s no doubting it. Plus, how can you go wrong with Angelina Jolie leading the whole thing?
What strikes me most is that the film being told through the point of view of Maleficent will no doubt shed some light on why she decided to become so damn mean. I think I kind of get it – I mean, she was totally shafted from attending Aurora’s birthday party. That IS pretty rude, don’t you think? I guess we will just have to wait for all the insight . . .
In the meantime, you will find us getting drunk on another amalgamation of the {past}, {present}, and {future} with Lana Del Rey’s sweeping take on 1959’s Sleeping Beauty’s original love theme “Once Upon a Dream” based off a theme from Tchaikovsky’s 1890 ballet. With the cooing of her Monroe-esque voice, there was no one more perfect to elevate this classic to a place that resonates today, and beyond . . .
Listen to it below!
Don’t you love that feeling? Of having dreamt the moment before it happens . . .
I get that feeling a lot these days.
I guess that’s what you get for having that Eye of Faith.
Love predicting the {future}. Love keeping you posted.
Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.
-Ella Fitzgerald
It’s the eternal diva’s birthday today, and we couldn’t get away from showcasing her classic elegance, perseverance, and vivacious sense of self.
We think that she has a soul that should never be forgotten. Luckily, we will always have her music to lift us up off the ground. Words really can’t describe her talents in that area. Just listen to her cover of “For Once In My Life” in Berlin, 1968, above to see why!
Hopefully these photos help invoke the spirit of Ella Fitzgerald to make you smile throughout the day.
It’s not where you came from, it’s where you’re going that counts.
85-year old French movie star Emanuelle Riva, star of this year’s unapologetic future classic “Amour“, is already making history as the oldest Actress to be nominated in her category at this year’s Academy Awards, and might just be going on to make history again if she wins- making her the oldest Actress to win the Best Actress trophy ever (beating Jessica Tandy’s record back in 1990 for the film “Driving Miss Daisy” at the age of 81).
“I am truly happy, touched, and honored to receive, today in New York, a nomination for the role of Anne in AMOUR by Michael Haneke. For me, it is an immense gift, at this stage of my life, to be chosen by my sisters and brothers, for what I do as an actress. I never thought, while working throughout the years in Europe and France, that one day, i would cross the Atlantic Ocean, come to the United States, and be nominated. It is quite surreal for me. Shooting AMOUR with Michael Haneke was a complete joy for me, as I felt an absolute trust in him and we were in complete synch. Michael is the very music of his own film.”
The film is nominated for 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Style enthusiasts will be excited to see what Ms. Riva busts onto the red carpet come the big night. But, just because of her age, don’t count her out on making an impression. She is French, after all.
But on top of that, she is a star that has been working in the industry overseas for decades upon decades.
Leave it to the Academy to wait until one of the most talented actresses there has ever been is 85 years old to garner a nomination. One of the first films that ever made a real impact on my style, and on my creative outlook was the 1959 art-house film classic, “Hiroshima, Mon Amour“, which aptly starred the beautiful blonde French bombshell (indeed, she was!).
The film was directed my Alain Resnais (“The Last Year At Marienbad“), and written by the novelist Margeurite Duras, in one of the most incredibly poetic screenplays ever written.
The film is fascinating as it travels in and out of the streets of Hiroshima, shot after the tragedy of the Atom bomb.
The film explores an interracial romance between Emanuelle Riva, a French Actress filming a war picture and her romance with the brilliantly handsome Eji Okada, and the culture clash that surrounds them in the beautiful ruins of the sad Japanese landmark.
The film is groundbreaking for the two as Eji Okada is given an almost European sophistication, not to mention a major dose of sex-appeal (something Asian men were not given in films at this time), and Emanuelle Riva bravely explores a plethora of conditions and situations as her character explores her past.
Emanuelle Riva shows off some major chops in this film – showing a range that could only be described as Award-worthy.
Sadly, the Academy was not up to snuff with their foreign film actresses, so it’s great today to see that so many talents from around the world are accepted into the limelight of fame and stardom no matter their age or race – what matters most is talent. And by gosh, does Emanuelle Riva have that!
She is an actress that deserves to be recognized, and whose beauty we are lucky to have been captured on film over sixty years ago . Granted, she is very beautiful still, even at 85 years of age, but it’s really great to glimpse the actress in her younger years, watching her take big risks and break huge grounds. If it weren’t for her risky performances in the past, there probably wouldn’t even be the possibility of the range we see now for female actors in the industry.
Beauty can be summed up in many ways, but most importantly, it is this attitude of unwillingness to coincide with the expectations of the norms that is the most beautiful aspect of any human being there can be.
Fingers crossed for Emanulle Riva come the big night (if not her, we’d love to see little Quevenzhane Wallis take the prize!).
{MAILA NURMI & ELVIS PRESLEY GOOFING OFF}
