CineStyle: Reality Bites

Clockwise from top left: Philip Lim 3.1 Muscle Tee // Karen Walker Helter Skelter Sunglasses // Rochas Laser Cut Penny Loafers // Estée Lauder Signature Hydra Lipstick in Spanish Red // Marlboros // Topshop Bleach Ripped Cropped Jeans // pine tree air freshener // keys // Scotch & Soda vest // Big Gulp

I'm guessing you've all seen this one: disaffected Gen-Xers, college fallout, shitty jobs, Dad's credit card, 90s Houston, aimless wandering, the Gap, yep, that about covers it. Reality Bites, as cliché as it may be, has always been one of my favorites. Blame it on Winona Rider's perfect style, blame it on the fact that it's set in Texas, blame it on post college mall jobs, blame it on beer can bongs and Violent Femmes covers, but something in there feels just perfect to me.

Scrambling to make ends meet and somehow still achieve creative notoriety all while keeping her integrity intact, Lelaina (Winona Rider) mopes her way through life perpetual cigarette in hand. Her quasi burnout friends seem to be ambling along the same path which she explores (exploits?) via videotape. Rather than culminating in a meaningful intellectual probe into the life of Generation X as intended, her work gets sold off and chopped up into a fuzzy buzzy MTVesque proto-reality show thanks to her yuppy boyfriend (Ben Stiller).

More moping ensues: $400 phone bills to late night psychics, roommate wars, huffy spats with her moody crush Troy (Ethan Hawke), chain smoking, you get the picture. Lelaina hustles herself back into shape charging strangers gas to her Dad's credit card and pocketing the cash to pay off her debts. She shakes off her failed project, and, after an agro cover of The Violent Femmes' Add It Up belted out in her honor and a rather public breakup with her well-meaning yuppster boyfriend she ultimately gets the guy - dirty 90s hair and all.

Yes, it's hard making it out there on your own. Growing up is tough and clearly these 20 somethings aren't there yet, but it's pretty fun to watch them try. I just wish I'd thought of that gas card trick when I was 22.

Cinestyle: The Man Who Fell To Earth

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Is it strange that I feel most sartorially connected to a movie about a gin swilling, film obsessed alien traipsing around as a human? Not when that alien is 1970s David Bowie. 70s Bowie through the lens of Nicolas Roeg no less. Ever since a midnight screening of Performance I've been hooked on Roeg's kaleidoscopic, flamboyant, dream-like films. And no surprise, this one might be my favorite.

An aloof figure stumbles down a hill and slinks his way into town. Tommy, a whisper thin, porcelain pale alien fallen to Earth, is quietly bewildered with the world around him. Hiding behind sharp sunglasses and perfect fedoras, he spends his time cultivating a film business hoping to amass enough riches to make it back to his home planet and family.

Hick up along the way: a maid naif named Mary-Lou introduces him to the wiles of alcohol (as she dreamily sighs I looove gin), television and sex. Tommy falls victim to temptations and looses of his edge, his company is taken over (with the help of an over sexed professor played by Rip Torn). Ultimately landing in front of a crowd of flashing televisions, chugging gin by the liter, our dandy extraterrestrial winds up rather alone.

Several things are left unexplained (Does he ever make it home? Why doesn't he age? Why British? What's that goo all about?) but no matter. Bowie saunters his way through the film effortlessly, the wardrobe is a thing of wonder (those hats!) and the visuals are incredible in a way that only overly indulgent 1976 sexy-sci fi can be. So crack open a handle of gin, put on your best fedora and marvel at the wonders of The Man Who Fell To Earth.

Cinestyle: Minnie and Moskowitz

Get the look (clockwise from top): Karen Walker Betsey Sunglasses // Equipment Printed Silk Blouse // Acne Black Maxi Dress // cigarettes // Theory Burgundy Trousers // hot dog // Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Union Square // vintage needlepoint bag // East Blue Wrap Dress // Karen Walker Pink Patsy Sunglasses

  

Minnie and Moskowitz, what a gem of a neurotic love story. The unlikely paring of a hot-blooded parking lot attendant (Seymour Cassel) and an emotionally fragile museum curator (Gina Rowlands) make for drama in excess, awkward funny moments and a frank look at what love can be when you let your guard down. 

Oh, and crazy huge sunnies (which become something of a character themselves), sleek dresses, amazingly bad dates, iconic 70s Los Angeles (Pinks Hot Dogs, C.C. Brown's Ice Cream Parlor, LACMA), Minnie's killer apartment and Moskowitz's mustache really make this Cassavetes classic worth a watch.

Images via JB Taylor, Jenelle Is Swell, Cinema

Cinestyle: Less Than Zero

Get the look (clockwise from top): 3.1 Phillip Lim Leopard-Print Silk Crepe de Chine Blazer // Equipment Daddy Cutout Washed-Silk Shirt // Equipment Devon Stripe Shirt // cigarettes // Matiko Suede Oxford // Silver Filigree Brooch // Topshop Navy Chino Trousers // bright blue cocktail // Versace Red Medusa and Greca Print Twill Silk Square Scarf // Modern Pearl Necklace with Multi Colored Pearls // Super Future Sunglasses Classic Thin Sunglasses // Retro Super Future - 49er Sunglasses // J. Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt // Yves Saint Laurent Rough Pur Couture #40

Admittedly it's a bit of a bummer but this movie is still pretty incredible. Teal and pink washed Los Angeles, houses in the hills, and Jami Gertz pretty much just killing it in sharp blazers and a red pout.

Cinestyle: 3 Women

After watching Altman's 3 Women I couldn't get billowy yellow skirts & long blonde hair out of my mind. Such a strange & gorgeous movie. Sissy & Shelley were so amazing.

Get the look (clockwise from top): false eyelashes // Topshop Lemon Strapy Crop Cami // Sociables crackers // Burberry Rectangular Face Watch // Kit Grover Paper Bag Tote // Romye Ankle Yellow Pleated Skirt // Fendi "New Silvana" Bag // electronic cigarette // French Bedroom Company Large Lacey Yellow Floor Lamp // Bodkin Twister Swimsuit // Crate & Barrel 20 oz. Beer Mug // John Lewis Purple Skinny Belt // Topshop Oracle Metallic Heel Sandal