The Pirelli

I've always found it really strange that a tyre company is behind the worlds most enigmatic calendar. The Pirelli calendar was first published in 1964 and since then it has become a privilege for both the models (and some actresses) that appear on the pages, the photographers who are invited to shoot and the lucky few who score their very own copy.

Leave it to the Italians to produce a Calendar that has nothing to do with the brand it's aligned with (although sometimes there's a tyre in the photos) but instead celebrate the beautiful (and often naked) female form.

Over the years, photography greats such as Mario Testino, Annie Liebovitz, Demarchelier, Terry Richardson and Bruce Weber have shot such beauties as Kate Moss, Cindy Crawford, Monica Belluci, Penelope Cruz and Gisele Bundchen. The photos are stunning, sexy and tasteful (sometimes) and the annual launch commands as much media and excitement as any show at New York Fashion week. I just can't wait to see what Karl Lagerfeld will do with it in 2011.

If you're lucky enough to be on the mailing list, good on you. For the rest of us, thank god there's the internet. Here are some of my favourite photos from the history of Pirelli.

Image: Sophia Loren in the 2007 Pirelli calendar

Image: Penelope Cruz in the 2006 Pirelli calendar

Image: Cindy Crawford in the 1994 Pirelli calendar

And finally one featuring an actual tyre;

Image: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in the 2010 Pirelli calendar

Overload

Image: Dirty Dancy French VHS cover, ClonageDVD

The dirty dancing soundtrack was the one that melted in my walkman i think when i was about 9. It was my favourite movie and i LOVED Swayze (RIP) the soundtrack was even better, pretty sure my sister had the More Dirty Dancing Soundtrack too.

Anyway, obviously i'm not 9 anymore but the DD soundtrack is still very much a favourite of mine particularly at work. When things get a little rough, Karen who sits next to me, pumps 'Overload". It's pretty much the lamest song ever but it's pretty incredible at the same time.

So this morning I was in a FOUL mood, I mean horrible I want to rip someones head off moods. I got to work and the minute i opened my mouth i was bitching and moaning (apologies again to all involved). Then, someone put on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack and i was ok, after all 'big girls don't cry'!

So my advice is next time your in the worst mood in the work, listen to this soundtrack, it's sure to turn your frown upside down!

Wish List

Today is about clothes people, i am a girl after all. After a hugely busy week at work i've spent the last couple of hours looking online at pretty things I can't afford.

Online shopping has become increasingly popular with myself, my colleagues, friends and most of the general public who are basking in the rarity that is the AUD's strength against the US.

Here are a few of my favourite things, kind of like Oprah!

Ellery Arlus Jacket - The back of this is outstanding!

Since getting my Black Milk body suit, i'm kinda obsessed with them. The collection from We Are Handsome actually makes me tempted to spend almost $300 dollars on one.

We Are Handsome, The Bordeaux - LOVE all their prints

Topshop, PU Double zip shorts

I love Topshop and love even more that they deliver.

These are my two faves right now. Team the shorts with the body suite above and the jacket below and i got myself an freaking amazing outfit!

Topshop, Devoree textured Kimono

So yeah, these are my favourite things and Christmas is just around the corner so, you know, hint hint!!

'facebook me'

So I saw The Social Network on the weekend.

We went to MadMex for lunch (i had the naked burrito and tortilla chips, so good) and then played a bit of Big Buck Hunter over at Intensity (no joke, this actually happened AND some redneck came over to the BF and asked if he was a professional shooter, umm???).

Anyway, The Social Network (in case you've been living under a rock) is about Mark Zuckerberg who (in case you've been living under a rock) is the founder of facebook (i'm not going to do the rock thing again cause i'm pretty sure there's facebook there too!). Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg, is an arrogant Harvard genius geek who is both cunning and incredibly awkward and right from the beginning you are made to feel slightly irked but his confidence yet feel compassion for what inevitably takes place. The film begins with him having a conversation with his girlfriend. It's one of those typical Ivy League set ups that makes you feel incredible self conscious that there are 18 years olds somewhere out there having conversations like the cast from The West Wing (incidentally on purpose, Aaron Sorkin, was the creator and writer for the West Wing Season 1-4 and was the screenwriter for this film) all quick witted and intelligent and shit.

Zuckerberg is a freak genius and Sorkin reveals this very early suggesting that despite what his competitors say, he was going to invent something that would change the world with or without the help of the people who inevitably take him to court. The opening scenes are intercut with scenes obviously taking place after the launch of facebook when Zuckerberg is caught up in two separate lawsuits. Along the way we see the breakdown of the friendship/partnership between Zuckerberg and his BFF Eduardo Saverin as well as a cameo by Napster founder Sean Parker (played by Justing Timberlake excuse me!!) who really encourages the spread of the site.

Progressing similar to most bio pics, the film maps the creation of the biggest thing in on line media that the world has ever seen, and it's quite fascinating to learn how the 6 year old company has developed to being worth 25 billion dollars, making Zuckerberg the youngest billionaire in the world. One of the lines that stood out to me was 'they don't have roads in Bosnia but they have facebook'. This is the ultimate message of the movie, communication has never been so important, accessible and addictive as it is today and it's only going to get bigger with the newly unveiled plans to develop facebook email set to completely scare the pants off competitors.

I really liked this films for it's pace, it's narrative, the script and character development and for Justin Timberlake who, in his first sceen, i didn't even recognise. Eisenberg is awesome as usual and I think his baby face encourages more compassion towards Zuckerberg then perhaps is really appropriate. All in all, it's great and the posters are awesome. They are designed by the amazing poster designer Neil Kellerhouse. So next weekend while everyone is seeing Harry Potter, oh, sorry HP7 which it is now officially called, go have some mexican food, play a bit of the Big Buck and check out The Social Network.

I'll buy anything if it looks pretty

I like tea, usually peppermint and usually when i've eaten too much. I have never really been into the loose leaf variety cause i'm pretty lazy and even though i've got a million of those mugs with the removable tea leaf strainer thing, even that to me seem way too hard. Those amazing people over at Breville however have come up with the coolest freakin kettle ever, EVER! The Automatic Tea Maker and Kettle is designed for all those lazy bastards out there like me who just want a nice cup of tea, but can't be bothered to make it. Take a look at the website and watch the little promo videos. Trust me, you too will think that 300 bucks is reasonable after seeing what it can do!

Christmas is on the way bitches!

This is a few years old but honestly, it's one of the funniest things i have ever read. I found 'It's decorative Gourd Season, Motherfuckers' by Colin Nissan in McSweeney's Internet Tendency. So since Christmas is around the corner and plastic decorations will soon be in our faces, have a read and get inspired to fuck this festive season up with bonbons and tinsel and shit!

HoHoHo muthafuckers!

Brambilla

Ok so we are all familiar with the amazing video for 'Power' by Kanye and if you're not, shame, take a look here. The clip was created by Marco Brambilla who's a pretty amazing multimedia artist. He was responsible for this amazing installation in the lift at the Standard hotel in LA that takes you from Hell (ground floor) to Heaven (Penthouse). PLEASE do yourself and favour and watch it here, brilliant!

Image: Still from 'Civilisation' by Marco Brambilla

Time for a Change

I haven’t blogged for a while, mostly cause I took a ‘leave of absence’ from uni and didn’t feel very inspired to write about anything. That is of course till I had my usual ‘fuck what am I doing with my life’ panic which usually results in me starting yet another university course. However since my hecs bill is well above 60000 grand, I’m instead going to write about all of the incredible creative things and people I’m exposed to (but not in a pants down kind of way) as part of my job. Working for one of the countries most renowned creative events has it’s perks (free food and booze) in that I hear about talented individuals, incredibly cool gadgets and mind blowing experiences I probably wouldn’t have discovered on my own. So as a disclaimed for my new look blog, I’m taking away the black background and sharing what I think is some really fucking cool stuff! I’ll still probably bitch about the media too!