Gattaca: Cinema With Style

Long overdue for a movie review, and since so much of what passes for cinema these days is not worth discussing, I thought for today's post we'd look back to one of my all-time favorite sci-fi movies, GATTACA, a story if I may borrow from the poster taglines, that shows us a world where we have discrimination down to a science and proves that there is no gene for the human spirit.   

Movie blurb from YouTube: Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Alan Arkin and Jude Law star in this engrossing sci-fi thriller about an all-too-human man who dares to defy a system obsessed with genetic perfection. Hawke stars as Vincent, an "In-Valid" who assumes the identity of a member of the genetic elite to pursue his goal of traveling into space with the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation. However, a week before his mission, a murder marks Vincent as a suspect. With a relentless investigator in pursuit and the colleague he has fallen in love with beginning to suspect his deception, Vincent's dreams steadily unravel.

Not only has director, Andrew Niccol, (The Truman Show, The Terminal) crafted a beautiful story, well told and well acted, but he has created an alternate reality that makes my heart ache each time I see it. The costumes are divine, but it doesn't stop there. The design of the film has all the classic elegance of the 1950s futurism that I adore down to every last detail.

Niccol achieved this timeless look by using zero CGI at a time when CGI was exploding onto the movie making scene and frankly causing most of the films that used it to age like milk on a radiator. Niccol focused on practical effects like miniatures and forced perspective and used existing buildings built in the 1950s and 60s that captured the look. The result is an elegant world that draws you in from the first moment to the last. Released in 1997, and unfortunately buried through confusing marketing and a terrible release date, it flopped at the box office. I went on opening night that October in '97 and loved it right away. As Ethan Hawke once said in 2007 interview about his favorite but most overlooked work, GATTACA, "Time is the ally of good films, " and this film has stood the test of time, being just as relevant and poignant 29 years later as it was on its release date and it is a stunning reminder that film making can be/should be an art form. Well worth a watch for fashionistas and sci-fi fans, and film lovers alike.

Autumn Academia

I'm currently seeking comfort as the autumn chill settles over the mountaintop.  It's just a bit too soon to start burning up our wood supply, but the days both inside and outside of the house are quite crisp.  The only option left to me is to start layering.  Maybe it's the color palette, but academia seems like an inherently autumn style to me.  I've been playing with prints and textures now that I can finally bring out my cool-autumn things.  Today's outfit came together quite nicely, and I wore it all day for running errands, grocery shopping, and then baking and cleaning when I got home.  It was so warm and yet comfortable, it worked perfectly for all the things I had to do.  

Outfit Info:  Trousers from Commense, Top is old from Roolee, Sweater vest from SheIn, Oxford flats are old from Charlie Stone

Pin-spirations

I've been trying something new lately.  I heard somewhere that many unwanted habits are begin as an activity that you do as a transition between other things.  You've been working at a task and either it's finished or you need a break and so you decide to reward yourself with this transition activity, in my case online shopping.  So instead of shopping, when I need a break at work or home, I decided to try going to Pinterest for outfit inspiration.  I gather a few ideas and then come home and try to put it together from my existing clothes.  Today's outfit is an example.   I saw an outfit (which I can't actually find now because I didn't save it, but which looked similar to the one above), and thought, I bet I could put that together and wouldn't it look even cuter with a yellow cardi!  I love it, and wore it to work the next day in fact.  I'm enjoying the challenge, and I hope to make it a regular feature this season.

Outfit Info:  Skirt is old ModCloth, Top is very old SheIn, Heels are B.A.I.T., necklace is extremely old Forever 21, cardi is from YeMak

Times I Walked Away

I've been watching budgeting content in an effort to keep me motivated in 2026 and one habit that I decided to put into practice is: Keeping a List of the times I walked away.  It may sound strange, but writing down all the times I wanted to buy something and walked away instead (please note that today's photos are from a time I definitely did not walk away, but rather found a dress that has always been very pricey, even thrifted for under $35) has really helped me to see that how far I have come at gaining self control and using discretion on my purchases.  

I've gone from constant impulse buys, to frequently walking away from things that just aren't worth it to me, no matter how low the price drops.  Rather than only looking at the totals for all the things I bought in a week or a month, I can look at this list of all the things I didn't buy and see my successes and motivates me to keep going.  

It's a great reminder of the fact that not only do I have will power and self-control, but I actually use them more often than I give myself credit for and that is a far better motivator to keep going than guilt and shame will ever be.

Outfit Info:  Bernie Dexter Paris dress in fox print is thrifted

Spooky Tradition

The Witchy Season is here and once again, I did not come up with a Halloween costume this year.  I actually do have a great costume in mine, but I guess with the nest being empty, there doesn't seem to be much point in making a costume if I'm not taking children to trick-o-treat.  The nest is also constantly under construction so time is also a rare commodity around here.  

While I'm not doing a costume, it's a personal tradition to buy one piece of spooky clothing each year.  Not a very financially or spatially practical tradition, I will admit, but I do look forward to it and it's adjacent to getting in the holiday spirit.  

This year I chose this adorable bow top with books and potions print.  I love fall fashion more than any other season.  This year while performing my quarterly Changing of the Garb, I actually had to limit myself to how much autumn wear I could put into my closet because I just didn't have room for it all.  Eesh, I do love my clothes.

Since we don't have costumes ready, or little ones to take trick or treating, I think this will be my Halloween scary movie and non-scary dinner date night outfit.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Outfit Info:  Sweater Vest by Banned Apparel from Modern Millie, Heart of Haute Top from Modern Mille, Heels and skirt are old from ModCloth

Another Unicorn in the Stable

You know I love my unicorns, but as much as I love capturing these hard to find beauties, in all honesty, an equal part of the love is in the hunt.  This Chelsea dress in Japanese Doll print by Bernie Dexter has been on my ISO list since its release over a decade ago.  I just couldn't afford it at the time and it has only increased in price over the the years.  For some reason, when I do see this dress come up for sale, it is usually at twice the original asking price for something that has been worn and is over 10 years old seems insane to me.  

So, I keep watching and keep waiting and one day a deal like this comes along and the victory is so sweet.  I found this dress for less than the original price and in excellent condition, so I knew it was finally time to bring this Chelsea home.  And the hunt?  Well, my list always has a few things on it, because I do enjoy that part so much, but it did feel good to finally capture this unicorn.

Outfit Info:  Bernie Dexter Chelsea Dress in Japanese Doll Print, Honiara Vintage Heels, Vintage purse