Love Fest: Natalie Portman in Closer

"Lying's the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off - 

but it's better if you do."

Life. Love. London.

If I were to apply the lessons learned from Closer (2004) to my current situation in life, what I would take from it is this: moving to London can be dangerous for the soul.

Without even getting into the damages of the detrimental love-square that these characters experience, my main concern is almost entirely concentrated on aesthetics. The thought of being run over by a taxi on a busy street wearing that coat and having that hair gives me chills.

Alice/Jane (Portman) may be a slightly naive free-spirit, but when the best part of your wardrobe is your stripper uniform, it's time to take a step back and re-prioritise your life. 

Costume designer extraordinaire Ann Roth definitely missed the mark with Natalie Portman in this film. Having previously done such a great job with Dressed to Kill (1980), Working Girl (1988), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), The Stepford Wives (2004), Mamma Mia! (2008) and others, I am rather disappointed.

Although, here's a slightly worrying thought: Alice's look when she eventually returns to New York is rather effortlessly chic. Is this because she's in New York or because she's single? Some women do seem to dress better when they've broken up with someone. 

The Inspiration: Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman in Black Swan

Off-duty ballerinas are on the same chicness level as off-duty models.

There's something so fascinating about ballerinas and their style. Like models, they are wafer-thin, and thus could pretty much wear anything they like without the paranoia of looking like a stuffed sausage. So why is it that Nina (a.k.a. Natalie Portman) and Lily (Mila Kunis) dress so casual when they are not performing?

The reason must have something to do with the elaborately gorgeous costumes they wear on stage (which can be said of some models as well). If you wear feathered corsets and tutus all day at work, you're more than likely to want to wear jeans and sweatshirts or cardigans when you're unwinding. Effortless elegance.

Ballerinas always have very stylish workout attire as well. Leggings, tanks, boleros, and of course ballet slippers, all of which for some reason adhere to a pastel-palette (unless you're the eponymous Black Swan). 

In any event, whether off-duty or on stage, ballerinas are always a style inspiration. Especially the ones from Black Swan (2010).