#Classic Moto Show

[boanerges20]

Anthony Gobert † 1997

[sheliesshattered]

The overdress is all in one piece! And we have sleeves! With bonus screen accurate Rhaenyra ring!

Work has been extra weird this week, but weird in a way that's given me more time to iron and pin and sew than I usually have. So I was able to get through that long list of pressing tasks from my last post, and then pin the two front panels to the side panels (which are already sewn to the back panels), pin the back seams of the sleeves, and sew those four seams earlier today.

With those seams done, the sleeves are sleeve-shaped and the dress is basically dress-shaped. All of those new seams need pressed, and the sleeve seams will need to be hand-finished since the black silk organza is a bit itchy on its cut edges. There's just one more body seam left to sew for the dress, the center front seam, and then the little shoulder seams.

There's quite a lot of finishing to be done, both on the dress and the sleeves. In the above pic, the sleeve is just clamped closed at the underside of the wrist, and once it has its hooks-and-eyes it'll fit a lot more smoothly. And then there's all the seam finishing for the dress, hemming the neck and armscyes and skirt edge, and handsewing on all the trim and beading. Lots to do!

I've been working little by little on the handsewing for the seams finishes for the underdress, and then it will need all its hemming too. But when possible I've been trying to focus on the overdress, because if it came down to it, I would rather have the overdress done and leave the underdress somewhat unfinished. But today is exactly 15 weeks until I have to pack for Dragon Con, so I've still got time, and I'm hoping I can get everything finished to my liking in the time remaining.

Besides the dress itself, I still have a few things to do on the wig, and I've been tracking down the jewelry pieces one by one, and I may actually end up making one piece that I've been unable to find. I also want to make a little handbag to carry all my stuff at con, but that's definitely on the nice-to-have list.

Some days I feel like I'll be able to get through this whole project with time to spare, and other days I feel like I'm going to be working on it up until the very last moment, and maybe have to cut corners to get it done. Getting through this last portion of machine sewing and into all the extensive handsewing will hopefully give me a better idea of how long the whole thing will take.

But, of course, I'm already having Ideas™ about what other cosplays I could make for Dragon Con this year, if I do end up having time at the end of the summer. One of them would be pretty straightforward, and I could use the same pattern as this project with just a few modifications, and I already have at least most of the materials I would need to complete it. The other one is completely ridiculous, with tedious machine sewing and handsewing, but damn it would be fun.

Welp. I guess if I want to have any hope of finishing this cosplay and maybe one or two more after that, I should probably get back to it. My iron awaits!

[crazymadpassionatelove]

Cool Fiancè

Notes: 18+ sex mentioned

Special shout-out to @ab4eva and her fabulous editing skills! This is the second installment in my cool girl saga. Read Part 1 here

---

Five Things to know about Austin Butler’s New Fiance ::

Although his reps couldn't be reached for comment, sources close to the Elvis actor confirm he has popped the question to his mysterious lady love!

Butler and the stunning brunette were recently spotted at the iconic Les Puces market in Paris last Friday, and she seemed to be sporting a new accessory. Austin was dressed in a black leather jacket, a white v neck tee, and black moto boots. She was clad in a classic trench coat and vintage Dior kitten heels as she kept her head down and let the winner lead the way. His face was mostly obscured by aviator sunglasses, but his smile was very apparent according to onlookers. “Austin was holding her hand and pointing out jewelry at different booths. They were very friendly with local vendors and Austin ended up buying her a gold charm bracelet. He told the dealer the bracelet was a momento to celebrate their recent engagement,” a fellow American tourist overheard. The twosome reportedly spent the prior week soaking in the city of lights and meeting with the YSL fashion house. Austin was recently tapped as the brand's newest ambassador.

Since returning stateside paparazzi pics have finally surfaced and revealed a closer look at that ring. Montana based indie jeweler Jada Kaye has been revealed as the designer of that serious sparkler. The 5 carat, flawless emerald-cut emerald is set in solid gold and flanked by two white diamonds on either side. Inside sources told Elle Magazine that Kaye and Butler worked closely together to craft the one of a kind creation. There's even rumored to be an inscription on the inside that's significant to the couple and the ring is estimated to cost a cool $100,000. Austin's fiancè was photographed heading into a ballet studio yesterday wearing pink tights, a pink leotard, Ugg boots, and of course that ring. Her curly dark brown hair was slicked back into a bun and she seemed to be sporting a pair of the actor's sunglasses.

Here's everything you need to know about the future Mrs. Austin Butler;

She's from New England —

A, as she's known, was born in Rhode Island. She grew up splitting her time between Rhode Island and Kennebunkport, Maine. Her teenage years were spent working the local Del’s lemonade truck, former neighbors say. She attended the Rhode Island School of Design after high school but never graduated.

She and Austin met via her former job –

Whilst working at the New York location of Vibrant Vintage, A, served as the fashion archives buyer. She also happened to be on hand when Butler visited the store. Supposedly she helped him find the perfect pair of leather boots, and the rest is history. Things clearly moved quickly between the two lovebirds, with A relocating to Los Angeles not long after. According to Vibrant Vintage, she is no longer employed there but “remains a close friend and consultant,” says their PR team.

She's a hit with his friends –

She organized a birthday party for her man’s co-star and close friend, Callum Turner. Turner posted an Instagram story showing off a fairly large garden party celebration and a “homemade blueberry glaze cake” according to the post. “Huge thanks to Austin's lovely lady xx” accompanied the video footage. She and Austin were also seen dining with his other Masters of the Air co-star, Nate Mann, while in Paris recently.

They've (supposedly ) got matching ink –

An unnamed employee at the iconic Bang Bang tattoo in NYC has said that Austin and A made a late night visit to the tattoo studio. Where exactly are the said-to-be matching minimalistic tattoos? Reportedly, Austin was inked on his left hip and A on her inner left thigh.

Old fashioned love letters are her thing -

Notably social media shy, Austin and A have taken up the lost art of handwritten love notes. Sources exclusively say that custom monogrammed stationery was crafted for the duo whilst Austin was filming in England. The hand pressed, vintage inspired paper bears a unique coat of arms style symbol with intertwining letter A’s and two sparrows (Fun fact! Sparrows mate for life and always find their way back, no matter how far they fly). While separated, the couple often writes letters to one another, even having the letters sent via jet instead of mail for privacy reasons!

_______

Suddenly one morning articles begin to pour in about your engagement. It catches you off guard, that ring akin to a skating rink has been sitting pretty on your hand for a bit now. The engagement had happened so naturally as everything with the two of you seems to. In the early morning hours while his swollen, rock hard member thrusts into you repeatedly you begin to awaken. On your side, his teeth clamp down on your shoulder as his finger twirls round the curls at the nape of your neck.

His gasps and needy groans tickle your ear. “Couldn't help myself..”, he shudders as you suddenly clamp down around him, barely able to register it all. You stretch and arch, allowing him the room and space to take what he needs. It is his after all. His teeth and pillowy soft lips mark your shoulder blades and when you reach down to where the two of you are joined, you feel his very full balls. Your newly manicured fingers tease and tug the best you can, scrunched up like some sort of acrobat. “Ugh, ugh…baby… you're gonna make me -”. Then he does. Hot, viscous, cream floods you and makes you sigh in a contented whimper. “Thanks darlin’,” he pets your head and you close your eyes dreamily. That is until you hear him rustling around in the bedside table next to him.

You cock open an eye, figuring he's looking for smokes or even the book he had been reading late last night. Your hands are stretched above your head, gripping a pillow. The perfect position for him to suddenly slip the most gorgeous piece of jewelry you've ever seen onto your finger. When your eyes shoot open and you jump up, he's lying there grinning that smile that makes you weak at the knees. “Will you be my wife?” As if your answer would be anything but yes, please Daddy. You smother him in kisses, straddling him and giggling. It's the perfect moment, the perfect proposal. You were never one to want a fireworks display or heaven forbid, those ridiculous and wasteful walls of flowers other celebrities seem to have for every occasion. This private, simple moment is everything you could ask for.

You feel the sudden urge to take him in your mouth despite him just finishing. With your head hanging off the side of the bed, you take him down your throat. Choking and gagging, you really give it your all. Fighting to keep your eyes open so you can see the way his lip curls and his eyes slam shut. Talking is always your thing. This time, though, he's sputtering and rasping words of utter devotion and love. Promises to worship your body until the day he dies. My perfect, perfect wife. Soon you can't be sure if the tears are from his cock down your throat, or his beautiful words. Maybe both. Those pretty boy fingers twist and tug on your nipples and then crawl lower and flick that special spot. The only fireworks you enjoy happen, twice for you actually. He's so dutiful and charming, when you're done pulling yourself back together and fixing your hair, he's handing you a surprise glass of champagne. What a way to mark the occasion.

You decline a proper press announcement. Phone and FaceTime calls follow to those who truly matter to you both - your families, both absolutely thrilled. Then Baz, Cal, The Presley's, everyone can't stop gushing about how perfect you are for each other. That ring, oh how sweet he designed it himself. You come up with a family-appropriate story to describe the proposal and the evening that followed, conveniently leaving out the mind-blowing sex the two of you have all over the house and in the hot tub. Why do things feel so different now that you're engaged? You can't get over the way the light hits the ring as you stroke him and something in that dirty girl heart of yours feels like it's really, truly, official when you have to clean his cum off the stone.

He's due back to set for some reshoots a few days later and of course you follow. Bringing throw pillows from your living room to spruce up his trailer and plotting out how to plan the most private, under the radar wedding possible while you lounge in his trailer in a cute little dress you sew yourself from vintage scarves bought in London. Your newest hobby, that and the ballet classes. He yammers on and on about wanting to sneak in and see you dance. You're sure it's just the tights and leotards spurring his interest though, let's be real. The paparazzi are as relentless as ever, but head down with big sunglasses helps keep the chaos at bay.

You visit Disney World, a whole crew, the two of you, your families, friends with their little ones. Thankfully Disney security is familiar with celebrity guests and you can actually let your guard down for once. Which is good, because seeing Austin chase after your friend's newly toddling little ones makes your stomach flip flop with joy. You make a mental note to expedite the wedding plans, he makes it known that he's chomping at the bit to be a father. When you visit Main Street, you decide a pair of new Mickey ears are in order. Gold stitching with Mrs. Butler is what you finally decide on after Austin's encouragement, his hand on your lower back as you walk miles and miles around the park with hands full of churros and cotton candy. Sure, some overzealous fans snap cell phone pics of you with your ears and immediately post them to those ridiculous Austin fan blogs who've now decided you are the evil villain in his story. You won't allow them to burst your Disney bubble though. Your fairytale is just beginning after all.

__

[frenchcurious]

Officier de police de Los Angeles des années 1930 sur une moto Indian Scout 101 de 1928. - source Classic and Modern Show Cars AU.

[myargalargan]

A Classical Polinalysis: Ep. 2

Hello friends, Polin stans, and classical music nerds!

Picking up from my episode 1 analysis, I am back with the second installment in the series of episode-by-episode analyses I mentioned when I shared the playlist I made of all the Classical pieces used in Bridgerton season 3.

The tracks on the playlist are all in order of when they appear in the show, and here are all the pieces that were used in episode 2: 

Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130: VI. Finale. Allegro

Bach’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in E Major, BWV 1042: III. Allegro assai

Mozart’s String Quartet No. 8 in F Major, "Viennese", No. 1, K. 168: IV. Allegro

Mozart’s String Quartet No. 3 in G Major, "Milanese", No. 2, K. 156/134b: I. Presto

Mozart’s String Quartet No. 23 in F Major, "Prussian", No. 3, K. 590: IV. Allegro

Joseph Schuster’s String Quartet No. 2 in B-flat Major: I. Allegro di molto (formerly attributed to Mozart as the "Milanese" (or Paduan) String Quartet No. 2, K. 210)

Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, “Appassionata”: II. Andante con moto 

All of this music is used over the course of the Full Moon ball, and the choice of music and the scenes each piece of music is paired with turns the ball something of a microcosm for the entire episode. What the hell do I mean by that? 

This episode is all about flirtation, fertility, and passion, and the action in this episode sets into motion some of the major conflicts of the season. We have the Mondriches settling into their new home and attending society events for the first time, the Featherington sisters getting a healthy dose of Sex Ed, Francesca being granted the Queen’s favor, and—of course—Colin and Penelope beginning their lessons and all the tension and drama that brings. So let’s get into how the Classical soundtrack compliments this very meaty episode…

Looking at the track list in order, we’ve got a bit of a composer sandwich (get it? meaty episode? ha-ha-ha?) with Beethoven bread, Mozart filling, and Bach and Schuster toppings. The allegro finale of Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 13, which starts as Colin and Eloise’s conversation about Penelope in the carriage ends, welcomes us to the ball. The second movement of Beethoven’s “Appassionata,” which Francesca is playing when Lady Danbury sneakily invites the Queen to observe, concludes the whole event. But I have a lot to say about both Beethoven pieces, so I’m going to save that for later! To start, I want to talk about the flirtatiousness of the other pieces used during this episode. 😏

The next piece after the Beethoven string quartet is the third movement from Bach’s Violin Concerto No. 2, which plays when Benedict asks Miss Stowell to dance. We only hear the very beginning of the concerto in this episode, but the distinguishing characteristic of a concerto—which is also what I find so flirtatious about this piece—is the back-and-forth between a solo instrument (in this case, a solo violin) and an ensemble (in this case, a chamber orchestra). In particular with shorter pieces like this Bach concerto, which is an energetic two minutes long with concise musical verses, you get the feeling of a lively conversation, where the ensemble has their say, the soloist replies, the ensemble adds another musing, then the soloist replies, and so on. 

I also think this concerto is fun for this scene for a couple other reasons. One, the soloist-ensemble dynamic calls to mind Benedict getting cornered by a pack of ladies. But also, this concerto is in what’s called “ritornello” form, which means that the ensemble repeats the same musical theme every time they come back in, and I love this as a funny little musical illustration of Miss Stowell’s persistence with Benedict—she keeps coming back, over and over, just like that repetitive musical theme! 

The next piece is the fourth movement from Mozart’s String Quartet No. 8, which starts playing right as Portia tells Mr. Finch that his wife is a pastry and continues as Penelope talks with Colin about his writing. This piece actually elides seamlessly into the track from the season 3 OST called “Attempts to Flirt” the moment Colin says he’ll consider letting Pen read more of his writing if she talks to at least one lord that night, which is a fun little tie-in to our theme. And the string quartet is great for this moment between Colin and Pen because of its fugal quality. A fugue—such as Bach’s famous Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, which is used in a ton of films including the original Fantasia—refers to a structure where the musical theme is introduced in different voices or instruments one after another. (Kind of similar to a musical round, like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” but not as simplistic.) Like the concerto, there’s a repetition of musical ideas, and those ideas bounce around from instrument to instrument, again creating a sense of lively conversation. Almost as if one person starts to tell a story to a group of friends, and then another person jumps in to say, “Oh, yes, I know what that’s like!” and tells their own anecdote, and so on around the group as the conversation feeds on everyone’s enthusiasm. 

I love this for Pen and Colin’s interaction because it has a similarly flirtatious energy as the concerto, but at the same time it’s more complex than a simple back-and-forth. There’s a layering aspect to a fugue—when a subsequent instrument picks up the theme, that doesn’t mean the first instrument stops playing. I think this has a similar energy to the way good friends who are comfortable and excited together might end up talking over one another or picking up the ends of each other’s sentences. I think it’s also illustrative of the complexity of Colin and Penelope’s relationship, especially at this phase. They’re friends, yes, but other feelings are starting to get all mixed in. They flirt quite easily with each other, but that makes things more complicated. A playful but multi-layered fugue illustrates this pretty well, I think.

Then we have our second Mozart string quartet of the episode, the first movement of Mozart’s String Quartet No. 3, when Eloise inadvertently lets it slip to Cressida that Colin is helping Penelope find a husband. This piece isn’t a concerto or a fugue, but it does still have an interplay between the instruments that, to me, creates a similar effect. There are several moments within this movement where the violin will start the musical line and one of the other instruments will finish it, like passing a baton. Or, again, like lively and comfortable conversation! To me, it feels a little bit like two people winking at one another as they catch each other’s meaning. 

There’s also a fun little bit about two-thirds of the way through the piece where, for not even 30 seconds, the tone of the music changes entirely, to something darker and more dramatic. Musically this part is known as the “development,” which is where the music meanders and does a bunch of interesting things before it returns to the main theme that was introduced in the beginning. This is a very common musical technique, but it doesn’t appear quite so starkly in any of the other pieces used in ep. 2. Since this piece plays during an Eloise and Cressida scene, we could take this darker interlude to be a reflection of Eloise’s relationship with Penelope—how it has taken a dramatic turn but will be righted again before long. We can also look at it through a Polin lens, since Penelope and Colin’s relationship takes a similar trajectory. Either way, I like the idea that there’s a bit of dark foreshadowing in this otherwise playful, flirtatious piece of music.

From there, we have the fourth movement of Mozart’s String Quartet No. 23, which plays as the Mondriches enter the scene. Other than the Beethoven pieces, this is the longest piece used during this episode, and it gets the most airtime. It plays for the entire duration of Benedict’s spiel about how married couples are free from the rules of society because they have already fulfilled their duty. And I love this piece for this moment because it really goes places. This movement has some fugal passages, giving it that same flirtatious quality as the other pieces used this episode, but there’s also moments where the tone gets much more dramatic, moments when the tempo seems to slow or get interrupted, syncopated sections that almost feel cartoonish… The character of the piece is surprising, and it evolves over time, and—I think—it reflects the journey the Mondriches have been on since season 1 and the surprising evolution their life has taken in season 3. And will continue to take! As they figure out how to navigate this new world and learn that it’s not as simple as Benedict made it seem.

Okay, now onto the last bit of sandwich filling, the first movement of Joseph Schuster’s String Quartet No. 2 in B-flat Major, which plays while Lady Danbury leads the Queen away from the main ball and while Eloise’s group of debutantes lament their chance to show off. Is this piece also flirtatious? Yes, I think this piece has a similar quality to Mozart’s String Quartet No. 3, where sometimes musical lines started by one instrument get picked up and finished by another. But another thing I find really interesting about this piece is that it’s a case of mistaken identity. This piece was composed around 1780, but until the 1960s music scholars attributed the piece to Mozart. And to use this piece during this scene is particularly compelling, because it’s the moment that Cressida denies having any good gossip, but also the moment when the gossip about Penelope and Colin begins to spread throughout the ball anyway, which Eloise (and Colin) mistakenly blames Cressida for. There’s also maybe a deeper meta here about mistaken identities that could tie into Cressida’s false claims to the Lady Whistledown name, which is interesting to consider in contrast to this moment at the ball where Cressida—unlike later in the season—chooses to be the bigger person and renounces the lure of gossip in favor of protecting her new friendship with Eloise. 

Which brings us to the final piece of music featured at this ball, the second movement from Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 23, the “Appassionata.” Which is of course relevant because Francesca earlier admits to loving it so much during her abbreviated conversation with Lord Petri. Petri describes Francesca’s favorite pieces as “expressive music,” which is fitting for a musical work nicknamed “Passionate.” Francesca also says, “I mostly enjoy the chord progressions,” in response to Petri getting all “can’t you feel it in the music?” and although Petri was talking about the Ries Piano Trios, I like thinking about Francesca’s response in relation to the second movement of the “Appassionata” because that movement is one big theme-and-variation���there’s a musical theme introduced at the beginning, and then that theme is repeated two more times with variations in the melodic structure but always with the same chord progressions.

One thing I love about this piece as the close-out to the ball is the way, with each subsequent variation on the theme, the music builds and builds. It starts out slow and in a low register, and it gets faster and higher pitched as it goes (the part we hear Francesca playing is the fast high part). There’s a really obvious analogy to sex here, which is clear in Petri’s reaction and Francesca’s discomfort with his reaction—which is appropriate because sex is such a major motif in this episode (“Inserts himself? Inserts himself where?”). But there’s also the analogy to the build-up that we’re about to experience at the end of the episode, the way everything Penelope has been through the past couple episodes (couple seasons, really) culminates in that first unbelievably passionate kiss between her and Colin. 

But, more than that! The second movement of the “Appassionata” doesn’t have a true ending—it’s through-composed with the third movement, so that the two are meant to be listened to back-to-back. If you listen to the end of the second movement by itself, you’ll hear a chord that sounds like it’s supposed to resolve to a nice clear ending, but then instead of resolving, that chord is followed by an intriguing, dissonant, kinda jazzy-sounding musical lick. If you didn’t proceed to the third movement right away, musically, you’d be left hanging. (And even once you’re into the third movement, it takes a while for the music to properly resolve.) And I love this! Why do I love this? A while back, I did an analysis of Polin’s theme (from the original score) and wrote a bunch of stuff about how their musical theme, the way we hear it in part 1 of the season, feels unresolved, suspending us in the tension of their uncertain relationship status. We only get proper musical resolution in their theme in part 2, after they’re engaged. So using the second movement from the “Appassionata,” with its false ending, at the conclusion of the Full Moon ball—a ball which encapsulates so much of what’s going on in the episode overall—is such a great way to foreshadow the end of the episode: the build-build-build to the passionate kiss and then—! Leave us hanging as Penelope runs away and Colin’s life starts falling apart around him.  

Speaking of endings…! It’s time to circle back around to the first piece of bread in our Beethoven sandwich, the sixth movement from Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 13…

If you’ve stuck with me this far, hang in there for just bit longer! Maybe take a quick break and grab a snack. ;) 

I thought a lot about the usage of the allegro finale from Beethoven’s Op. 130 in this episode. It’s such an interesting choice, not necessarily because of the music itself, but because of the history of the entire quartet. See, when Beethoven first composed String Quartet No. 13, it had a different final movement. However, at the first performance, that movement received such a negative reaction that Beethoven’s publisher convinced him to write a replacement. The replacement is what’s used in the show. And it has an entirely different character from the original. The new finale is light and cheery, while the original was dense and complicated. The original was panned by critics as being incomprehensible, inaccessible, and difficult to both listen to and play. (Give it a listen. You may find that it makes you deeply uncomfortable 😅 but it’s definitely an experience!) The new finale, on the other hand, is…a dance! It’s bouncy and positively Haydnesque, and completely uncontroversial.

The original was ultimately published as its own work under the title “Grosse Fugue,” as Beethoven’s Op. 133. However, some Beethoven enthusiasts and music scholars will argue that the correct way to play String Quartet No. 13 is with the original ending, the way Beethoven intended. Preferences vary, though, and what this means is…there are two possible, perfectly valid, endings to this piece of music. And each ending has a completely different vibe. 

Do you see where I’m going with this? 😉

This piece plays as we are welcomed into the Full Moon ball, and when I set out to do this analysis, I was originally looking at the allegro finale on its own, trying to find something meaningful in its structure or its harmonies… But I think what’s most interesting about it, in the context of this episode, is that it represents the duality of choice. And there’s a few different layers this could apply to: Eloise and Cressida’s decision whether or not to share the gossip about Colin helping Penelope, Colin’s choice to help Penelope in the first place (and to continue to help her after the journal faux pas)...his choice—at the end of the episode—to kiss her. The Queen's choice of a diamond, even! But if we’re talking about possible endings, then this piece is really setting us up for the ultimate narrative choice between Colin and Lord Debling. And it’s fitting as an introduction to the Full Moon ball because it’s at this ball that Colin gets his first taste of jealousy and competition, and then of course it’s Penelope’s humiliation at this ball that is the catalyst for the kiss that sends Colin into his downward spiral of desperate, all-consuming love. So whereas at the end of ep. 1 Colin may have been able to go about his life acting as though he was unconcerned about whatever feelings he may or may not have had for Penelope at that point, by the end of ep. 2 that’s simply not at all possible anymore. And so the show starts building the foundations of one of Penelope’s possible choices, one of her potential endings. (And I guess whether or not you consider Debling to be a perfectly valid alternative ending depends on what kind of Polin shipper you are. 😉) 

So there you have it: the drama of choice, the sexiness and frustration of building yet unresolved tension, misunderstandings (and, you might even say, the probable pains of friendship), SO much flirting—some easy and straightforward, some ceaseless and unvarying, some deliciously complex… All present at the ball, throughout the episode, and in the Classical soundtrack.

♥

And here's some of the research I did for this post:

Beethoven's String Quartet No. 13: https://www.earsense.org/chamber-music/Ludwig-van-Beethoven-String-Quartet-No-13-in-B-flat-major-Op-130/

Beethoven's String Quartet No. 13: https://www.brentanoquartet.com/notes/beethoven-quartet-opus-130/

Beethoven's String Quartet No. 13: https://www.maramarietta.com/the-arts/music/classical/beethoven/

Bach's Violin Concerto No. 2: https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/pieces/4549/violin-concerto-in-e-major-bwv-1042

Mozart's String Quartet No. 8: https://fugueforthought.de/2018/07/01/mozart-string-quartet-no-8-in-f-k-168/

Mozart's String Quartet No. 3: https://fugueforthought.de/2016/08/27/w-a-mozart-string-quartet-no-3-in-g-k-156/

Mozart's String Quartet No. 23: https://www.talkclassical.com/threads/mozart-string-quartet-23-k590-sq-review.81909/

Schuster's String Quartet No. 2: https://www.earsense.org/chamber-music/Joseph-Schuster-String-Quartet-in-B-flat-major-No-2-KAnh-C2001-K-Anh-210/

Beethoven's "Appassionata": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR706pYvNl0&

[salty-medley]

A concept I had in mind for the Yuyan archers in the Legend of Korra era with more modern uniforms and weapons.

( check at Vachir for comparison)

Few points:

The idea of a short jacket with a darker thick border and a red piece on the left side of the neck, the color is less bright and it's asymetrical with shorter leaves ( instead of tugging longer ones in the arm protections).

The blouse is now a thin turtleneck top, following every movement.

Exit the "skirt" parts of the bottom, which is the same pants but with pockets - who doesn't need pockets?-

A tactical tight pouch when pockets aren't enough.

The arm protections are now on both arms.

Belt with the usual "triangle" symbol.

You also have it on the head piece but not the knot and the tissue anymore, it wasn't practical.

The boots are now hight instead of short ones with bandages. It also have the separated thumb toe form that we can see in the RC police uniform. The Yuyan were shown to be kinda "acrobatic" so I figured it'd help them to be more stable, comfortable and agile.

Big ass mechanical bow, more powerful than the classic one and with features to help targetting.

The arrows are basically the same I guess?

The quiver can be wear on the back and on the side of the leg ( hold by the belt) depending on the current needs.

EDIT: winter version added for special occasions.

EDIT 2: FInally added the tatoo. However I wonder if it's still a tatoo in LOK era and not a make up item, like a temporary one. Also if it's a real tatoo I hc them having to shave their eyebrow the first time they receive it.

Also for those who want a mount, rhinos are only for parades, we have motos now. Like the ones of Bongo and his barbarians.

To sum up, they were the secret weapon of the Fire Nation back in Ozai's times, bow I see more them like an elite troop, acting as bodyguards for important members of the political sphere and for special operations. They use their historical uniforms and mounts for shows and parades, being a well known attraction for tourists ( a bit like the Queen's (lol calling them the King's guards is hard) guards for example, but remaining trained soldiers.

[oddmawd]

Hello Mawd, have you thought of how would you like Rei to look like in yyh style? If so, do you have any preferred/favorite wigs for her or outfits?

OMG I LOVE THIS QUESTION...it's moodboard time!

Rei waffles between many kinds of presentation. She's a style chameleon, and she can adjust her aesthetic to best fit the occasion. But like most of us, she's got a few tried and true "looks" she turns to by default. I've selected a few reference photos here:

Rei loves menswear (top left, bottom right). She loves the look of fitted trousers and a billowing button-up shirt, the cut highlighting her waist and the length of her legs. In this aesthetic, she often foregoes a tie and just wears the shirt open. (She wore this look at Yusuke's bachelor party, for the record!) The bottom right look is one she often wears when attending classes while pursuing her masters degree. It's polished but not fussy.

When she goes femme, she goes VERY FEMME (bottom left, center, top right). She usually picks dresses with low backs or a high slit to once again emphasize her legs and toned physique. A lot of her dresses are from her ballroom dancing days, and they really show off her assets.

Lastly, she has a more default day-to-day look (middle left, middle right). This is her most casual kind of outfit, and it typically involves a tailored t-shirt, fitted jeans, and some kind of jacket (think leather or moto style, shown middle left). Her outfits are also heavily influenced by Japanese streetwear (middle right), with some oversized silhouettes paired with more fitted items.

She also LOVES heels (top middle). She'll rock heels with both dresses and menswear; she loves how they make her legs look. But for casual days, she likes wearing boots (bottom middle) or sneakers (middle right).

As for her hair, here are a few examples of styles I think she often turns to, but please note she LOVES having a wide variety of wigs for all occasions, and she has tons of styles in her closet ready to wear!

I think she rocks a lot of long-ish bobs (bottom left, bottom right, top right). They don't whip around too much and are fun to style. She has a few that are very "old Hollywood glam" that she busts out for parties (middle left, middle right), and she has a few that are the "classic Japanese beauty" style of long, straight black hair (bottom middle).

(Also those top right and bottom left photos might be the closest image to Rei I've found yet. The vibe of the top right is perfect and her features are close to the bottom left.)

She has some that are super short (top left) that give her a more punky/androgynous look (very Nana Osaki of her), and she has several that are styled with big, loose curls that look super soft and feminine (top middle).

She has mostly black and brown wigs (confirming to Japanese beauty standards), but she also has a wide selection of brightly colored party wigs in pinks, blues, etc.

Out of all the above styles, I think she defaults to the top right and bottom left styles the most.

ALSO! She always, always, ALWAYS has her nails done! She wears false nails and they're always immaculate, and typically she has cat-eye liner on. THANK YOU FOR THIS ASK OK I'M DONE THANK YOU HAVE A LOVELY DAY!!!

[boanerges20]

Anthony Gobert †

[cboffshore]

daily anon asks because anon likes hearing you ramble about your fics and i encourage them like the little analysis rambling - gremlin that i am.

regarding your new fic, which was beautifully written by the way! to what extent would you say the skybound events still affect jay & nya even after crystallised? are they small little triggers, nightmares after all the years passed? what’s your insight with that?

Hey there! Looks like I might have to start calling you the Enabler or something if this keeps up ;)

Anyway: yes, I'll take you up on the ramble chance offer, and I'm doing it in a single shot so I don't forget. And it's going to get long, so. You know.

Under the cut we go!

Post-Crystalized, I do think the events of Skybound still affect Jay and Nya, but realistically not much more than any other character-specific events affect any of their teammates. It's not a timeline that gets explored a lot, either - most Skybound angst that I see either happens during the season, immediately after, or within the context of very specific events, like the pirate genie joke from season eight. Granted, that's about as much as the show is willing to acknowledge it, so it's sort of tricky to figure out how strongly it would affect them.

Ultimately, I settled on a little bit of projection - I have some specific emotional trauma from a few years ago that I like to think I've gotten over, but sometimes I find myself thinking about it after the smallest little thing. For instance, I discovered a while ago that when I put my retainer in for the night and then smile at myself in the mirror, the retainer moves my lips and exposes my teeth just enough that my smile looks pretty close to the perpetrator's.

Weird, right?

It's been years since I've seen or spoken to that particular person. I can barely remember their face, so I have no idea what really set THAT memory off. And yet: there I was in my bathroom thinking of them. I didn't have any kind of major reaction beyond some discomfort and feeling kind of weird about myself in the moment, but, you know.. still happened. Anyway, that's the angle I go for when writing post-Skybound Jaya, because it's the one that makes the most sense to me and that I find easiest to write. The common trope of huge, overblown speeches about self worth and guilt and everything being okay that crop up in so many Skybound fix it fics has never sat right with me, because that's not how I approached my own recovery. I think I'm pretty healed and that I've processed it pretty well, but every so often, something minor just takes me back.

When I was first outlining this fic, I set it right after the Dark Island Trilogy, because that's something that I've NEVER seen addressed. If you haven't read it yet, I won't spoil anything for you, but the important bits are that it is canon and that it actually involves the Sky Pirates (minus Nadakhan). While they don't remember any of the timeline, Jay and Nya sure do, and they mention it a few times in the trilogy in that classic secretive way people have headcanoned for years now. Had I gone this route, it would have made the wound a bit more raw, which would've been nice. However, Jay having that flashback THEN would have been too obvious. (Also: they didn't have the Monastery. I wanted them to be seriously stable for this.) I then tried pushing it back to right after MOTO to be a companion piece for Small Cuts, but ultimately, I decided that loading Jay and Nya up with all the events of the Wildbrain era would give me the most ammunition to choose from. So: Post-Crystalized. They're still getting used to each other. Chapter two of A Little Annihilation will basically just be them on their own, bonding more as they embark on the world's most sentimental Home Depot run.

We don't have any decent information on how Jay and Nya process Skybound now. We ALMOST did, believe it or not, but the creators chickened out of putting Nadakhan on the Council of the Crystal King. Beyond the teapot gag, we haven't had any solid acknowledgement since SOG.

However! We did get a scrap of it in Dragons Rising season one, but only from Nya's angle, and it's VERY minor. I drew from e14 of DRs1 for both IICT and Annihilation, because that episode gives us two tiny, telling moments: the tinge of bitterness in Nya's voice when she tells Sora about the djinn and their showmanship, and the way she steps in front of Sora when all she sees of Arrakore is his silhouette and can't rule out that he's not dangerous. I've seen a lot of criticism towards this episode for not giving her a more dramatic or emotional reaction, which I find WILDLY unfair, because let's be real: at this point, Skybound is no longer the worst or craziest thing she's seen.

Whether or not those tiny reactions were intentional on the writer's part (and the writers' room for DR id so thorough that I believe it was intentional), they're IMPORTANT. It's been years! The Merge has happened, she's been the ocean, Jay's gone MIA, she's helping mentor the next generation and stop reality from caving in on itself. Dying in a wedding gown Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge style (and all its associated trauma) isn't necessarily top of mind, but having to use a djinn spell and tell Sora who they were would probably remind her of all that. To say NOTHING of the absolute curveball of meeting Arrakore! I stand at my mirror, put my retainer in, and see my bully's face; Nya steps into a cave and sees a four-armed, ponytailed silhouette rising and threatening her. Of COURSE that's startling, but enough has changed that she wouldn't collapse into a sniveling mess in front of Sora. For Jay, we know nothing, so I'm making him up as I go and taking a similar approach.

I got a little carried away there, but the point is: yes, it probably still affects them; no, it's not as drastic as people probably expect, and I can't bring myself to write it that way, because Nya's reaction matches my own so closely that I can't imagine writing anything else. Obviously I'm not working from the knowledge Nya has in Dragons Rising, but I'm letting her reaction there retroactively color her post-Crystalized experience (as well as Jay's, because I think they're similar like that).

Anyway, thanks for the ask! I'm hoping that that "daily" there isn't just hyperbole - you know I'm always down for this.

[historyhermann]

Supa Team 4 Spoiler-Filled Review

Supa Team 4 is a computer-generated superhero action-comedy series. Malenga Mulendema is the series creator and co-executive producer. Trigger Fish Animation Studios, known for the recent animated series Kiya and the Kimoja Heroes and Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, and various television specials and films.

Reprinted from Pop Culture Maniacs and Wayback Machine. This was the forty-fifth article I wrote for Pop Culture Maniacs. This post was originally published on August 21, 2023.

This series shows its Zambian roots from the get-go, beginning in Zambia's capital, Lusaka. A reporter, Geoffrey (voiced by Sne Dladla) talks about a mysterious tornado striking the city. Former secret agent Mama K (voiced by Pamela Nomvete) brings together all the protagonists. They include a gutsy and agile girl with hair parted into two box-like sections named Temwe Chiti (voiced by Kimani Arthur) who is a bit of a juvenile delinquent" and troublemaker; a smart, organized, and creative techy girl named Komana Mwinga (voiced by Zowa Ngwira); a brainy, industrious, athletic, and tall girl named Zikomo "Zee" Phiri (voiced by Nancy Sekhokoane); and a physically strong, calm, and wise girl with an afro tied at the top named Monde Wamunyima (voiced by Namisa Mdlalose). Each has their own superhero names. Temwe is T-Mlilo, Komana is K-Bongo, Zee is Za-Mpezi, and Monde is M-Kozo.

In some ways, Supa Team 4 is like other teen superhero series in recent years (DC Super Hero Girls, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and Young Justice) and classic series from the 2000s (Static Shock and My Life as a Teenage Robot). It comes at a time there are is growing number of Black animated series, like Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, My Dad the Bounty Hunter, Craig of the Creek, Central Park, Iwájú (upcoming), Iyanu: Child of Wonder (upcoming), and Karma's World. The latter series ended in September 2022. There are indie animated series focusing on Black stories such as Defenders of Alodia, Jumbie, Captain Zero, LimeLight, and Diver: The Animated Series. Most are in development or on hiatus like Diver.

The difference with this series is that its stories are completely Zambian and said to be "something special for Zambians." Even so, it is relatable to everyone, like Kizazi Moto, a series primarily produced by the same animation studio. In both cases, the shows bode well for the development of the African animation industry. Supa Team 4, like Kizazi Moto, emphasizes the importance of family, Monde is close to her sister Marjory (voiced by Celine Tshika), sports (through Zee), and political corruption. City residents call for Mayor Sikazwe (voiced by Sne Dladla) to resign, which the villain exploits. Temwe's love of eating food may be relatable.

Like any other superhero series, there is a need for them to keep their real identities secret, even from those that they know well. This is accomplished through their transformation into superheroes wearing specialized super suits ala magical girl style. Unlike any other transformations I've seen, each transformation has upbeat music and a distinctive flair, making it stand apart.

All four girls are chosen after being watched for weeks. It echoes Jerry's reasoning for bringing in Sam, Alex, and Clover in Totally Spies! or "choosing" the Mew Mews  in Tokyo Mew Mew New. Different from that series, Mama K lets the girls choose whether to be superheroes. The girls in that series were experimented on without their consent and forced into the superhero role. In this series, the girls have gadgets to entrap and defeat villains. Temwe's ribbon wand reminds me of Mega Pearl's weapon in Steven Universe Future or Cure Parfait's rainbow ribbon in Pretty Cure.

There is one other similarity between Tokyo Mew Mew New and Supa Team 4: the importance of preserving the environment. Komana builds a carbon-capture machine in the first episode, allowing her to capture a tornado. She receives a scholarship from Lee Magedzee (voiced by John McMillian), owner of a local energy company, Magedzee Power Corporation (MPC). He is impressed by her portable invention. It purifies carbon dioxide into safe carbon-based fuels. He later praises her solar-powered "smart art" that can charge phones and other devices.

Having an A.I. like T.O.M.I. (voiced by Thabe Ntebe), otherwise known as Technical Operations Management Interface, is not unique. Other series have featured A.I. as well. This A.I. is not a be-all-end-all. It is only one of the tools they use against villains, such as Storm Drain, Locus Pocus, Snap Back, Alley-Gator, Trash Man, Otherwise, I liked the role of Mama K's goat, Chomps (voiced by Gary Martin) throughout the series. It is even revealed that he is a secret agent!

Through the series, there is a push-and-pull of responsibilities to family and school. Temwe manifests this by her often run-ins with the school principal, Nkwashi (voiced by Abubakar Salim), who has it out for her. She gets suspended when Nkwashi thinks her ribbon wand might hurt someone. She later learns how to use her "hangry power" during battles rather than provoking Nkwashi's ire during the school day.

The series encourages viewers to believe Nkwashi is the shadowy villain, Bad Magz (voiced by John McMillian). There are hints. He has files on every student at Kamiji Secondary School. In the final episode, Temwe thinks that Nkwashi vanished like smoke. She is convinced he is the villain, after he declares she can't volunteer with Mama K (cover for their secret activities) if she fails a chemistry test. The girls don't buy her hair-brained explanation.

The series opening, first shown when the second episode begins, makes each episode pop. While the series music is by Ben Onono. Sampa the great does the theme music, in collaboration with Mag 44. It has to be one of the best opening sequences that I've seen in some time, and I watch a lot of anime series.

Following the first episode, Supa Team 4 turns to subjects like nanotech. The team reverse engineers some nanotech locusts for their own purposes. The obsession with popularity, homesickness (in the case of Monde and Marjory), garbage/rubbish collection, vlogging, value of art, education, and mind control are other topics. In the first half of the series, the villain is a shadowy figure not unlike the character of the same name in OK K.O.: Let's Be Heroes!. But, this person is more malicious.

He wants everyone in the city to lose electric power. This leads to random power cuts (load shedding) to compensate for electric energy loss after the hydroelectric dam is damaged. This allows Lee Magedzee to step in, declaring his wind farm will be upgraded and generate more electricity. At the same time, the villain exploits anger against the mayor for his own benefit. All the while, people hanker for more solar power.

Mama K has her own secrets. Formerly, she headed a crime-fighting team at the Intelligence Agency for Zambia (IAZ) and had the code name of Mkango. She, a computer expert named Rhino/Chipembele/Uncle Chi and a confidante (and inventive genius) named Towela, worked to bring down Chusi.

Even worse, this villain steals top-secret information, uploading the information to his mind, and destroys the original documents. As a result, the government didn't have access to their own intelligence! This ends sadly. Chusi used their device, the Brainstorm, to wipe the memories of Towela. It gives her amnesia. He also blinds Chi. Mama K is alone. The four protagonists cheer her up, convincing her they can all take down Chusi, also known as Bad Magz, together.

The Supa Team 4 season one finale blows everything wide open. Chusi gets, thanks to Professor Greenthumbs, some of the tech that Team 4 is using. Principal Nkwashi says that his own goal is to help Temwe. He is worried that she will become like him. He was a feisty and spirited kid who lacked focus. The four team members follow a Baobab tree to an abandoned mine. Greenthumbs deactivates their super suits, takes away their weapons, and pulls them into an underground lair! The biggest reveal is not that Nkwashi isn't the villain, but that Chusi is Lee Magedze!

This unexpected twist shows how devious the writers and animators were, leading the audience to believe that the Principal was the villain. The fact that Lee Magedze is the villain means he has the duality of being a Black leader who is trying to increase people's power and trying to take it away. My prediction is that he will attempt to unseat the mayor. The citizens would elect him if he ran on a Black empowerment platform. Once in office, he will have even more power, as the villain and the mayor.

There are reports that Supa Team 4 will have at least 25 episodes. In fact, the Director of Production at Triggerfish Animation Studios, Mike Buckland, confirmed a second season, writing "hold your breath for Season 2, because it just gets better from here." Such a season will undoubtedly continue to center on African stories, without any White characters, and remain relatable to Black girls and Zambians. The series may lean more into romance as well, as Zee's friend, Chipo Hamoonga (voiced by Daniel "KStar" Lyapa), has a crush on her, and a boy has a crush on Temwe.

Furthermore, the series may influence more Africans to tell their stories through animation, as they may see themselves, and their experiences represented, even as some Zambians claimed the character accents weren't authentic. Supa Team 4 is indicative of how collaboration is important in Africa, as the animation industry deals with many challenges, that "anyone from anywhere can be a superhero," and the great storytelling traditions on the continent. At the same time, I'm glad that the series was renamed from the original title ordered in 2019, Mama K's Team 4, as the current title makes the less about Mama K and more about the team.

Significantly, the series is dubbed in isiZulu. Mama K voiced by Linda Sokhulu. Many of the same voice actors re-appear. This dub promotes accessibility to a new audience. It provides the opportunity for people within South Africa, and other areas where Zulu is spoken, to connect with the characters within the series.

I find it funny that some complain about threats and violence in this series, since that is common in animation. Such complaints make the series appear more mature than the reality. It is more accurate to say Supa Team 4 is an all-ages series full of adventure, action, and humor, with a diverse cast. In addition, it defies oft-stereotypes of Africa. Others reported that the series draws visual inspiration from hip-hop girls groups and retro 1990s R&B groups. Malcolm Wope, an artist from Cameroon, does the visual design. The series has distinct characters, a real world but futuristic setting, while working through the girls' interpersonal issues.

Despite calls by Morrow for sharing the show, which she called a "project of passion," there is little chatter about the series on Reddit, and only one mature fanfiction written on July 30. There is more chatter on X/Twitter, with one account even as an unofficial fan page. Furthermore, on Tumblr, fans praised the show's animation, described the series as relatable, cute, have listed LGBTQ+ headcanons, drew fan art, and liked the magical girlesque transformations of the four protagonists. There may be chatter on other platforms, like Mastodon servers, but I am not personally aware of it.

Like they do with many series these days, Netflix did the fans of Supa Team 4 a disservice. All eight episodes dropped the same day on Netflix. While this makes it easy to binge the entire season, it creates a situation of catch-up among fans who run the risk of seeing spoilers on social media for episodes they haven't watched. This severly limits the possibility to discuss each episode without spoilers and can ruin pacing for a series. Netflix should have followed the model used for anime: dropping one episode each week. That would have allowed for more community to build around the show, than dropping it one day and moving on. It is irresponsible.

Although I wasn't familiar with series writers Ng'endo Mukii, Khadidiatou Diouf, Voline Ogutu, Maame Boateng, Omotunde Akiode, Tshepo Moche, or Gloria Huwiler, I knew of Vanessa Kanu. She directed the third episode/film of Kizazi Moto entitled "Moremi." It centered on the frailty of the human condition, family togetherness, and the value of one's soul.

Series director Dave Osburne, assistant director Tabitha O'Connell, production designer /art director Alessandro Chirico were names. I did not know series producer Ceri Barnes, head writer Amy Keating Rogers, and story editor Cindy Morrow either. Rogers worked on other girl-power series like The Powerpuff Girls and My Little Pony: Friendship. In addition, Osburne has worked on his share of animated series since the mid-1990s, as did O'Connell. At the same time, Chirico worked on Black Mirror, a series based upon The Twilight Zone. Barnes has been producer since the late 1990s.

For many voice actors, this may be their first voice role. Arthur previously voiced Willow in Nella the Princess Knight. MacMillan provided his voice for video game characters, as did Martin. Salim voiced Zanror in The Legend of Vox Machina. Animators have worked on series such as Kazazi Moto, Star Wars: Visions, and The Amazing World of Gumball, and films (Seal Team and Storks).

I excited to see where the series goes from here. Maybe Mama K will practice Nichiren Buddhism like her voice actor. Perhaps Zee will have Cuban roots like her voice actress or some of the main cast of Supa Team 4 will be queer. Looking through the social media of the protagonists, I am seriously doubting the latter.

In Zambia, same-sex sexual activity, for men and women, is illegal, a legal measure inherited from British control, and reportedly many queer people are closeted. Unfortunately, there is a slim chance for change. The Zambian High Court upheld acquittal of a human rights activist, who called for the country to recognize rights of sex workers and LGBTQ+ people, in 2013. However, a public opinion poll, released in 2010, indicated widespread disapproval of "homosexual behaviour."

Even so, the series is primarily produced in South Africa. After the end of apartheid, it outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation. Furthermore, it is the only African state to legalize same-sex marriage. In addition, there are legal protections for LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in employment and elsewhere. At the same time, the creators may want to avoid making the series controversial and won't have any queer relationships so the show can appeal to all Zambians.

Ultimately, I hope Supa Team 4 reaches new heights in season 2. Maybe it will pave the way for African animation in the Africanfuturist, superhero, comedy, adventure, action, and other genres.

Supa Team 4 can be streamed on Netflix.

© 2023 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

Have you seen Moto Guzzi’s “On To The Next Journey?”

Moto Guzzi is “ON TO THE NEXT JOURNEY” with Ewan McGregor

If you’re looking to cuddle into the blankets with a good mug of comfort and a new show, look no further; award-winning Scottish actor Ewan McGregor has partnered up with Moto Guzzi to bring us a new autobiography-style campaign showcasing the beauty of “the symbiotic relationship between man and motorcycle.”

The campaign, now available to watch on Youtube, is a beautiful homage to Hollywood’s golden years, with every Moto Guzzi machine in the film fresh out of Ewan McGregor’s own collection (that’s how much of a Guzzihead our Obi-Wan is, apparently).

Ewan MacGregor riding a handful of Moto Guzzi Machines in the brand’s new campaign, “On To The Next Journey.” Media sourced from the brand’s recent press release.

Locations of the scenery include Eric Lloyd Wright’s brutalist house in Malibu, as well as the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, “the desert spaces in Lancaster, the L.A. River and the Second Street Tunnel in downtown Los Angeles,” all memories that will stay with McGregor for a lifetime – especially the one riding Moto Guzzi’s stunning V100 Mandello.

“When I got to open up with the V100 on the Pacific Highway,” recounts Ewan, “it was truly an exhilarating experience; this is a very unique bike – sporty yet comfortable, perfect for a long ride. It’s totally Moto Guzzi at heart, and that’s what’s so great about it, that they managed to design a modern liquid-cooled motorcycle that still feels like a Guzzi.”

Now, wait, how long will it takes SH, a beginner motorcyclist on his custom Triumph 🏍️ to do the same by copying Ewan McGregor 🤔

@imahalfemptykindofgirl Very good observation. Ewan’s motorcycle 🏍️ is a limited edition Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello “Aviazione Navale” in celebration of its historic connection between Italian motorcycle manufacturer with the Navy. The link between Moto Guzzi and the Navy goes back more than a century when company founders Carlo Guzzi, Giorgio Parodi and Giovanni Ravelli served together in the Aeronautical Service of the Regia Marina during the First World War.

The brand emblem, Spread Eagle, has its origins in this era and combines classic style with modern technology with elegant design and exclusive details, this motorcycle is a desire for many motorcyclists and collectors around the world.

[biglisbonnews]

BTS' Jung Kook Named Calvin Klein Global Ambassador "The List" is PAPER's monthly roundup of the newest arrivals, capsules and collaborations. Scroll through, below, to see March's biggest fashion news.Jung Kook for Calvin KleinAnother BTS member just landed a coveted ambassadorship with a fashion brand. This morning, Calvin Klein named Jung Kook its new global ambassador for Calvin Klein Jeans and Calvin Klein Underwear with a new campaign shot by Park Jong Ha. Etro Launches Vela BagMarco de Vincenzo, who showed his first debut collection for Etro last September, introduces his first bag for the Italian brand: the Vela, a bag inspired by nautical elements (its name comes from sail in Italian) with a V-shaped closure and sharp silhouette. The campaign features the model Bianca Balti showing off the bag, which comes in black, ivory and chocolate.Available now at etro.comHarley-Davidson Launches H-D CollectionsLed by Creative Director Louise Goldin, H-D Collections is a grouping of lifestyle apparel lines defined by 120 years of moto-culture and composed of three product lines: Bar & Shield by Harley-Davidson, Harley-Davidson Originals, and Harley-Davidson Authorized Vintage.Available now at hdcollections.com Jean Paul Gaultier x Y/Project's Second CollaborationGlenn Martens first introduced his Jean Paul Gaultier capsule at his Fall 2022 show for Y/Project (he would later design a couture collection for the brand) which featured Gaultier's signature Trompe l’œil prints. The two brands are reuniting for a second capsule collection featuring more of the 2D illusion knits on mesh dresses, tank tops, turtlenecks and skirts.Available now at fashion.jeanpaulgaultier.comGUESS Originals x Real TreeGUESS Originals tapped Realtree for their latest capsule, using the brand's canvas fabrics and prints to rework core styles including the Carpenter short, jean, trucker jacket and belt skirt. The campaign was shot on a ranch in Katy, Texas with GUESS Originals ambassadors Ish Cepeda, Robert Neal, Kevin White and Alex Midler.Tommy Hilfiger x Shawn Mendes CapsuleTommy Hilfiger x Shawn Mendes CapsuleTommy Hilfiger x Shawn Mendes CapsuleTommy Hilfiger is teaming up with Shawn Mendes on a new capsule collection titled Tommy X Shawn Classics Reborn, a take on on pre-'90s prep highlighting relaxed fits, comfort and sustainability. The campaign sees Mendes (pre-buzzed haircut) modeling pieces from the collaboration including American flag shirts and denim jeans.Available starting March 15 at tommy.comAdrien Brody Is Releasing a Collection With BallyThe actor Adrien Brody, who made a surprise front row appearance at Bally's Fall 2023 show in Milan, is teaming up with the brand on a collaboration set to debut later this year of men's and women's ready-to-wear clothing, shoes, bags and other accessories.Puma Launches Second Collection With Palomo SpainThe second Puma x Palomo Spain collection is inspired by surf culture ranging from the 60’s and 70’s to the early 2000's memories of beaches in Spain. “Surf culture was an angle Puma had never really taken on before. Filtered through Palomo Spain’s gentle, couture-inspired lens, it immediately took on an exciting, innovative perspective," said Puma's global creative director Nils Moersch.Available now at Puma.comBurberry Debuts Self-Titled Book by AssoulineWith a new creative era for Burberry in place (Daniel Lee just showed his first collection for the brand during London Fashion Week), the company is releasing a new coffee table book to celebrate its 165-year history and British heritage. Titled Burberry, the Assouline-published tome features five chapters and 200 archive illustrations depicting its evolution from a family-run company to renowned global luxury brand. It was written by journalist Alexander Fury with a foreword by Carly Eck, Burberry’s Brand Curator.Available for pre-order now at Assouline.comVilebrequin x The Woolmark CompanyVilebrequin x The Woolmark CompanyVilebrequin x The Woolmark CompanyVilebrequin x The Woolmark CompanyVilebrequin x The Woolmark CompanyFrench swimwear house Vilebrequin announces a 5-piece capsule of immaculately tailored swimsuits in extra-fine Merino wool. For their second summer with The Woolmark Company, they've added two new men’s suiting references into the mix: safari-inspired khaki and the emblematic Prince of Wales check.Available now at vilebrequin.comBUTT Launches 32nd Issue With Bottega VenetaThe pioneering queer magazine BUTT, which returned last year after a 10-year print hiatus thanks to a partnership with Bottega Veneta, launches its 32nd issue today featuring the tombstone engraver Roman Hanak on the cover. Inside the issue: the writer Eileen Myles gets off on poetry with Brontez Purnell; sex professional Sharok details his passion for pigeons, politics, and porn; Wolfgang Tillmans drops by hitmaker LSDXOXO’s flat for a quicky; pop star Oliver Sim poses for drawings in London; Daisuke Nakashima snaps shirtless men in Tokyo. BUTT 32 is available now in shops and online.UGG x Telfar Debut New Shopper Bags in Baby Pink and Baby BlueUGG and Telfar are back with a new drop of their collaboration. In addition to restocking Chestnut and Black shopper bags, the brands are introducing Baby Pink and Baby Blue shoppers in sizes small, medium, and large that lend a nod to a nostalgic UGG color palette. Available starting March 5 at TELFAR.NETALTU Releases Its Third CollectionALTU Releases Its Third CollectionALTU Releases Its Third CollectionThe third installment of ALTU blends late nineties and early aughts teenage style with a fluid approach to identity, sexuality, and presentation. It features exaggerated proportions, neon colors, and playfully subversive detailing. Knitwear has delicate cutouts with tiny ring piercings at the collar and hem. Cargo pants reference varsity athletic wear with cinched hems and zip sides. A cropped motorcycle jacket and leather biker pants with denim crotch detailing are introduced for the first time.The first drop of this third release is available now at ALTU.world, Ssense.com and Bergdorf Goodman https://www.papermag.com/march-2023-fashion-news-jung-kook-2651365982.html

[monterplant]

ICYMI: Highlights from this year’s EICMA motorcycle show

As the annual EICMA trade show wraps up in Milan, we’re taking a look at some of our favorite highlights from the past week. We start with the new Royal Enfield Classic 650 and Moto Guzzi V7 Sport, then examine the bonkers 2025 KTM 1390 Super Duke GT. Husqvarna brought their new Pioneer electric dirt bike to the show, while Honda showed off a wild V3 prototype engine. 2025 Royal Enfield Classic…

[topguru1]

The Most Unexpected Celebrity Leather Jacket Pairings: Bold Looks That Made Headlines

Leather jackets have long been a fashion staple, but some celebrities have taken this classic piece to the next level by pairing it with unexpected outfits. These bold fashion choices have not only turned heads but also redefined how we think about styling leather jackets. Let’s take a look at some of the most memorable and unexpected leather jacket pairings by celebrities that made waves in the fashion world.

1. Lady Gaga: Leather Jacket with a Ball Gown

Lady Gaga is no stranger to bold fashion statements, and one of her most talked-about looks involved pairing a studded leather biker jacket with an extravagant ball gown. The juxtaposition of edgy leather and flowing formalwear created a dramatic and unforgettable ensemble.

Why It Stood Out: The contrast between the rough texture of the leather and the soft, elegant fabric of the gown made this look strikingly unique.

Style Tip: You can recreate this look by layering a cropped leather jacket over a simple, flowing maxi dress for a less dramatic yet still impactful style.

2. Rihanna: Leather Jacket Over a Bikini

Rihanna’s daring sense of style knows no bounds, and she once made headlines by wearing a leather jacket over a bikini top at a beach-themed event. This unexpected combination highlighted her fearless fashion approach and proved that leather jackets aren't just for cooler weather.

Why It Stood Out: The idea of wearing a leather jacket in a beach setting defied traditional fashion rules, blending streetwear with swimwear.

Style Tip: For a similar look, wear a lightweight leather jacket over a crop top or bralette with high-waisted shorts for a summer festival outfit.

3. Kanye West: Leather Jacket with Sweatpants

Kanye West has often blurred the lines between luxury fashion and streetwear, and his choice to pair a sleek leather jacket with casual sweatpants was no exception. The mix of high and low fashion elements challenged conventional norms and set trends in the streetwear scene.

Why It Stood Out: Combining a leather jacket, traditionally considered a "dressy" item, with athleisure wear showed that fashion can be both comfortable and stylish.

Style Tip: Try wearing a leather bomber jacket with joggers and high-top sneakers for a modern, athleisure-inspired outfit.

4. Zendaya: Leather Jacket with a Tulle Skirt

Zendaya is known for her bold and fashion-forward choices, and she wowed fans when she paired a leather moto jacket with a delicate tulle skirt on the red carpet. The mix of tough and tender elements created a visually captivating look that balanced elegance with edge.

Why It Stood Out: This look played with contrast, combining the feminine appeal of tulle with the rebellious vibe of a leather jacket.

Style Tip: To achieve a similar look, pair a leather jacket with a lace or chiffon skirt for a romantic yet edgy style.

5. Jared Leto: Leather Jacket with Floral Prints

Jared Leto, a true style chameleon, often combines unexpected elements in his outfits. One of his boldest looks featured a leather jacket worn over a floral print shirt. The mix of the masculine leather with the soft, colorful pattern created a striking and memorable ensemble.

Why It Stood Out: The unconventional pairing of leather with floral prints challenged the idea of leather jackets being strictly for rocker or biker styles.

Style Tip: For a similar effect, layer a leather jacket over a floral or patterned shirt and pair it with dark jeans or tailored trousers.

6. Gigi Hadid: Leather Jacket Over a Formal Suit

Supermodel Gigi Hadid took a classic leather jacket and paired it with a tailored formal suit, giving a fresh twist to the traditional menswear-inspired look. The combination of a structured suit and a relaxed leather jacket added dimension and a cool-girl attitude to her outfit.

Why It Stood Out: Wearing a leather jacket over formalwear broke the conventional style rules and brought a touch of rebellion to a sophisticated look.

Style Tip: Try draping a leather jacket over your shoulders when wearing a suit to add a laid-back yet chic element to the outfit.

7. Harry Styles: Leather Jacket with a Silk Scarf and Pearls

Harry Styles has become a fashion icon known for his eclectic and gender-fluid style. One of his standout looks involved wearing a leather jacket with a silk scarf and a strand of pearls, blending classic rock style with a touch of vintage glamour.

Why It Stood Out: The inclusion of feminine accessories like pearls and a scarf added a unique twist to the traditional leather jacket look.

Style Tip: Add a printed silk scarf or some statement jewelry to your leather jacket outfit to experiment with texture and add a touch of elegance.

8. Miley Cyrus: Leather Jacket with Denim Cut-Offs and Fishnets

Miley Cyrus is famous for her edgy, rock-inspired style, and she made headlines by pairing a leather jacket with denim cut-off shorts and fishnet stockings. This look gave off strong punk vibes while also incorporating elements of street style.

Why It Stood Out: The mix of denim, leather, and fishnets created a bold, multi-textured look that felt rebellious and on-trend.

Style Tip: Pair your leather jacket with distressed denim and patterned tights for a punk-inspired streetwear look.

9. Victoria Beckham: Leather Jacket with a Pencil Skirt

Victoria Beckham, a fashion icon in her own right, once paired a sleek leather jacket with a fitted pencil skirt, seamlessly blending biker chic with business elegance. The look offered a sophisticated take on leather jacket styling, ideal for an office setting.

Why It Stood Out: Combining a form-fitting pencil skirt with a leather jacket added a touch of edge to an otherwise classic outfit.

Style Tip: Opt for a fitted leather jacket and a high-waisted pencil skirt to maintain a sleek and polished appearance.

10. Justin Bieber: Leather Jacket with a Plaid Shirt and Beanie

Justin Bieber has embraced a grunge-inspired style, wearing a leather jacket with a plaid shirt and beanie. This casual, layered look is perfect for colder weather and channels the '90s aesthetic that has made a strong comeback in recent years.

Why It Stood Out: The combination of grunge staples with a leather jacket created a nostalgic yet contemporary look.

Style Tip: To recreate this style, layer a leather jacket over a plaid flannel shirt and add a beanie for an easy, relaxed outfit.

Where to Find Celebrity-Inspired Leather Jackets

If you're looking to replicate these bold celebrity leather jacket pairings, Top Guru Jackets offers a range of high-quality leather jackets to help you achieve the look. From classic bikers to modern moto jackets, find the perfect style to make your own headlines.

Shop at Top Guru Jackets: Discover celebrity-inspired leather jackets for every style at Top Guru Jackets.

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Anthony Gobert †